Cal. Civ. Code § 60
Bulkheads and scuttles
Operative Text
§ 60. Bulkheads and scuttles. 1. There shall be a fire-resistive bulkhead in the roof over, or connecting directly by means of a public hall with the highest portion of every stair extending to the highest story below the main roof. Stairs leading to such bulkheads shall be fire-retarded as required for other public stairs and shall have at the top fireproof doors and assemblies with the doors self-closing. All stairs to required bulkheads shall be provided with a guide or handrail. A scuttle so constructed as to be readily opened may be substituted for a bulkhead in dwellings not exceeding three stories and a basement in height. Such scuttle shall be at least twenty-one inches in width and twenty-eight inches in length, covered on the outside with metal and provided with a stationary iron or steel ladder leading thereto. 2. When a dwelling has a pitched or sloping roof with a pitch or slope of more than fifteen degrees, no bulkhead or scuttle, or stair or ladder leading thereto shall be required. 3. A bulkhead door or scuttle shall never be locked with a key, but may be fastened on the inside with movable rustproof bolts or hooks. All key locks shall be removed. 4. Bulkheads and stairs leading thereto existing on July first, nineteen hundred fifty-two, shall be permitted provided the stairs have such angle of ascent and treads of such dimensions as may be approved by the department.
New York Multiple Residence Law § 60 establishes requirements for roof access points—called bulkheads and scuttles—in residential buildings. Most buildings must have a fire-resistive bulkhead connected to the stairway, with fire-retarded stairs, self-closing fireproof doors, and handrails leading up to it; shorter buildings of three stories and a basement or fewer may use a scuttle (a hatch) instead, subject to minimum size and ladder requirements. A key exception under § 60 applies to buildings with steeply pitched roofs exceeding fifteen degrees, which are exempt from these requirements entirely. Critically, bulkhead doors and scuttles may never be locked with a key—only interior bolts or hooks are permitted.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple residences subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 60 generally maintain roof access structures that meet the law's fire-resistance, door hardware, and handrail specifications. Compliant buildings have all key locks removed from bulkhead doors and scuttles, replacing them only with interior rustproof bolts or hooks. For buildings three stories and a basement or shorter, operators who use a scuttle in lieu of a bulkhead ensure it meets the minimum 21-inch by 28-inch dimension, exterior metal covering, and fixed iron or steel ladder requirements outlined in § 60.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 60, residents have an interest in knowing that roof access points in their building must meet specific fire-safety and accessibility standards, including a prohibition on key locks on bulkhead doors or scuttles. If a bulkhead door appears to be locked with a key, or if stairs and handrails leading to a bulkhead seem to be missing or in disrepair, these conditions may constitute violations of § 60. Tenants who observe such conditions can report them to the local housing or building department, raise the issue with a tenant-rights organization, or note the potential violation in any relevant housing proceeding.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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