Brewster, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 148 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 148-11
Public space
Operative Text
A. Height. Public space shall have a minimum height of seven feet six inches measured from finished floor to finished ceiling. B. Light and ventilation. (1) Public spaces shall be provided with artificial light. (2) In public stairs, stairways and passageways, artificial light shall be electric lighting available at all times so as to afford safe passage for occupants and users. Such lighting shall conform to the following: (a) A sufficient number of fixtures shall be provided so that the distance between fixtures is not more than 30 feet and so that no wall is more than 15 feet distant from a fixture. (b) Incandescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/4 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps with a total of not less than 25 watts. (c) Fluorescent lighting shall be based on not less than 1/10 watt per square foot of floor area, except that each fixture shall have a lamp or lamps of a total of not less than 15 watts. (d) Where under these formulas the calculated wattage does not correspond to that of a standard lamp, the next larger size shall be used. (3) Public spaces shall be provided with either natural ventilation, conforming to the requirements for habitable space, or with mechanical ventilation.
Brewster, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 148 § 148-11 establishes minimum standards for public spaces in buildings, covering ceiling height, lighting, and ventilation. Public spaces must be at least seven feet six inches tall from finished floor to finished ceiling, and must be equipped with artificial lighting that meets specific wattage and fixture-spacing requirements. Stairways and passageways require electric lighting available at all times, and all public spaces must have either natural or mechanical ventilation meeting the code's standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Brewster ch. 148 § 148-11, compliant building operators generally ensure that all public spaces meet the seven-foot-six-inch minimum ceiling height and that lighting fixtures in stairways and passageways are spaced no more than 30 feet apart, with no wall more than 15 feet from a fixture. Operators also verify that incandescent or fluorescent lamps meet the minimum wattage-per-square-foot thresholds specified in the provision, rounding up to the next standard lamp size when calculated wattage falls between sizes. Ventilation in public spaces is maintained through either natural ventilation consistent with habitable-space requirements or an approved mechanical ventilation system.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Brewster ch. 148 § 148-11 establishes that occupants and users of a building's public spaces — including stairways and passageways — are entitled to safe, continuously available electric lighting and adequate ventilation. If a public space in your building appears to fall short of these standards, such as inadequate lighting in a stairwell or insufficient ceiling height, that condition may constitute a code violation. Tenants can generally report such concerns to the local code enforcement or building department, or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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