Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 186 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 186-14
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.
Section 186-14 of Massena's Code of Ordinances establishes minimum physical 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.
Operators of buildings subject to Massena Code ch. 186 § 186-14 generally ensure that all public spaces meet the seven-foot-six-inch minimum ceiling height and that lighting fixtures are spaced no more than 30 feet apart, with no wall more than 15 feet from a fixture. Compliant operators verify that incandescent or fluorescent wattage meets the per-square-foot minimums specified in § 186-14, and that stairways and passageways have continuously available electric lighting. Ventilation in public spaces is typically provided either through natural means consistent with habitable-space requirements or through a qualifying mechanical ventilation system.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 186-14 establishes baseline standards for the public spaces — including stairways, hallways, and passageways — that tenants use daily, requiring adequate height, lighting, and ventilation. If a public area in a building appears to fall short of these standards, such as inadequate lighting in stairwells or insufficient ceiling clearance, tenants may document the conditions and consider raising the issue with local code enforcement in Massena. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand what options are available, including how a code violation under ch. 186 § 186-14 might be relevant to housing complaints or other proceedings.
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