Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-22
Light and ventilation for nonhabitable space
Operative Text
A. Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with electric light appropriate for the use of such rooms. B. Laundry rooms, furnace rooms and similar nonhabitable spaces shall be provided with electric light appropriate for the use of such rooms. C. Stairs shall be provided with electric light to allow safe ascent or descent. D. Kitchenettes, bathrooms and toilet rooms shall be provided with ventilation in accordance with either of the following: Natural ventilation as required for habitable space, except that for toilet rooms and bathrooms, a window shall not be less than one foot in width measured between the stop-beads and shall not be less than five square feet in area, and the openable area of a window in a kitchenette shall not be less than three square feet; or mechanical ventilation exhausting not less than 25 cubic feet per minute for bathrooms and toilet rooms and not less than 100 cubic feet per minute for kitchenettes. E. Spaces in multiple dwellings which contain central heat-producing, air-conditioning and other equipment shall be ventilated to the outer air, and air from these spaces shall not be recirculated to other parts of the building. F. Ventilation shall be provided in unheated attics, spaces below flat roofs and in crawl spaces. Location and net areas of ventilation openings shall be such as to minimize deterioration of structural members from condensation or other causes, in conformity with generally accepted standards.
Albany Code § 231-22 establishes minimum lighting and ventilation standards for non-habitable spaces in residential buildings. Kitchenettes, bathrooms, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, furnace rooms, and stairways must each have electric lighting suited to their function. Ventilation requirements for kitchenettes, bathrooms, and toilet rooms may be met through qualifying natural ventilation (with specific window size minimums) or through mechanical exhaust systems meeting defined airflow rates. Spaces housing central mechanical equipment must vent to the outside, and attics, crawl spaces, and spaces below flat roofs must also be ventilated to limit moisture-related structural damage.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings in Albany should ensure that every space covered by § 231-22 — including bathrooms, kitchenettes, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, furnace rooms, and stairways — is equipped with adequate electric lighting. For ventilation, compliant properties either provide natural ventilation through windows meeting the section's minimum size requirements or install mechanical exhaust systems delivering at least 25 CFM for bathrooms and toilet rooms and at least 100 CFM for kitchenettes. Equipment rooms must exhaust to the outside without recirculating air, and unheated attics, crawl spaces, and spaces below flat roofs require ventilation openings sized and positioned to prevent condensation damage to structural members.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Albany rental units have a right to adequate lighting in bathrooms, kitchenettes, toilet rooms, laundry rooms, furnace rooms, and stairways, as well as proper ventilation in bathrooms and kitchenettes, under § 231-22 of the Albany Code of Ordinances. If a bathroom window is too small, mechanical ventilation is absent or inadequate, or stairways lack sufficient lighting, these conditions may constitute code violations that a tenant can document and report to the appropriate Albany housing or code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations in Albany can help residents understand how to raise such conditions as part of a housing complaint or, where applicable, as a defense in a 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 November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.