Great Neck, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 321 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 321-10
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 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. 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 60 watts. 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 40 watts. 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.
Great Neck, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 321 § 321-10 establishes minimum physical standards for public spaces in residential buildings. These spaces must have ceilings at least seven feet six inches high, must be supplied with artificial lighting, and must receive either natural or mechanical ventilation. Stairways, passageways, and public stairs face additional requirements specifying fixture spacing, minimum wattage, and the continuous availability of electric lighting to ensure safe passage.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 321 § 321-10, compliant building operators generally ensure that all public spaces meet the seven-foot-six-inch ceiling height requirement and are equipped with functioning artificial lighting at all times. In stairways and passageways, operators typically verify that fixtures are spaced no more than 30 feet apart, that no wall is more than 15 feet from a fixture, and that wattage meets the incandescent or fluorescent minimums specified in the code. Ventilation systems in public spaces are also maintained to meet either the natural ventilation standard for habitable space or an approved mechanical ventilation alternative.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 321-10 of the Great Neck Code of Ordinances gives occupants and users of a building the benefit of minimum lighting, ceiling height, and ventilation standards in public spaces such as stairways and hallways. If these conditions appear to fall short — for example, if stairway lighting is inadequate or frequently unavailable — tenants may have grounds to raise a code-compliance concern with the appropriate local building or housing enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Great Neck or Nassau County housing codes can help residents understand what documentation or complaint processes may be available to them.
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 9, 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
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation