NYC Admin Code › Chapter 2: Housing Maintenance Code › Subchapter 3: Physical and Occupancy Standards for Dwelling Units › Article 1: Lighting and Ventilation
§ 27-2060 Lighting and ventilation of living rooms in new law tenements
a. Required windows. Every living room in a new law tenement shall have a window opening on:
(1) A street, or
(2) A lawful yard or court.
b. Size of windows.
(1) The total area of all windows in the room shall be at least one-tenth the floor area of such room.
(2) Every required window shall be at least twelve square feet.
(3) At least one-half of every required window shall open.
(4) The top of one required window in a room shall be at least seven feet six inches above the floor.
c. Through ventilation.
(1) Every part of a dwelling unit of three rooms or less shall be either within eighteen feet of a street or yard or have a window opening upon a lawful court.
(2) If the window of any room opens on an inner court with a width of less than ten feet between the exterior wall of the dwelling and the lot line, there shall be a sash window connecting such room to an adjoining room within the dwelling unit. The sash window shall have at least ten square feet of glazed area, one-half of which shall open.
d. Dining space. A dining space shall have at least one window:
(1) That complies with the provisions of subdivision a; and
(2) That has an area not less than one-eighth the floor area of such dining space.
- Source
- NYC Admin Code, as published by American Legal Publishing, the City's official publisher
- Last amended
- No amendment date in the official history
- Checked
- Matched the official code on October 1, 2026
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