New Rochelle, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 174 § 174-16

Window guards

In Force
Verified 11/7/2026 · Next check 2/5/2027
New RochelleHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

New Rochelle, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 174 § 174-16
A. Installation and maintenance required. Every person who owns, manages or controls a multifamily dwelling as hereinafter defined ("dwelling") shall provide, install and maintain a window guard of a type acceptable to the Building Bureau of the City of New Rochelle on all windows in each apartment where a child or children 10 years of age or under resides and on all windows in the common public halls. It shall be the duty of each person required to provide, install and maintain a window guard to ascertain whether such children reside therein. Installation shall be made in accordance with specifications provided by the Building Bureau. This section shall not apply to windows that are a required means of egress from the dwelling. B. Definitions. As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: MULTIFAMILY DWELLING A building or portion thereof containing three or more dwelling units. STORY That portion of a building included between the surface of any floor and the surface of the floor next above it. If there is no floor above it, then it shall be the space between the floor and ceiling next above it. A cellar shall not be counted as a "story" in determining building height. C. Obstruction and interference. No one shall obstruct or interfere with the installation of the window guards required by Subsection A , nor shall any person remove such window guards. D. Installation and maintenance upon request or order. (1) Every person who owns, manages or controls a dwelling, as defined herein, is required to provide, install and maintain window guards when requested to, even when a child in the protected category does not reside in the subject apartment, within 30 days of a written request to do so. (2) Whenever a violation is found to exist, the Building Bureau may order any person required to provide, install and maintain window guards to do so. In the event that such order is not complied with within five days after service thereof, the Building Bureau may issue appearance tickets to enforce compliance with this section. E. Notification to tenants. (1) All leases offered to tenants of a dwelling must contain a notice, conspicuously set forth therein, which advises them of their rights to have window guards installed in their apartments and that a copy of this section is contained in the office of the Building Official of the City of New Rochelle. (2) Every person required to provide, install and maintain window guards must cause to be delivered to each apartment within the dwelling a notice advising the occupants of their rights to have window guards installed in their apartments and that a copy of this section is contained in the office of the Building Official of the City of New Rochelle. F. Rules and regulations. The Building Bureau shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary for there to be compliance with the provisions of this section. G. Penalties. (1) Any offense against the provisions of this section shall be punishable as provided in § 174-15 of this chapter. Any person who neglects, refuses or fails to comply with any order or notice issued hereunder shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed $250 or by imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each week's continued violation shall constitute a separate additional offense or violation. (2) Nothing in this section shall be construed as depriving the City of New Rochelle of any other remedy available to it in cases where there is a violation of this section.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

New Rochelle, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 174 § 174-16 requires owners, managers, and controllers of multifamily dwellings (three or more units) to install and maintain approved window guards on all windows in apartments where children age 10 or under live, as well as in common hallways. Window guards must also be installed within 30 days of any written request from a tenant, even if no young child currently lives there. Leases and individual apartment notices must inform tenants of their right to request window guards, and no one may remove or obstruct required guards once installed.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 7, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 174-16, compliant operators of multifamily dwellings actively determine whether children 10 or younger reside in each unit—typically through lease questionnaires or annual surveys—and promptly arrange installation of Building Bureau-approved window guards in those apartments and all common hallways. When a tenant submits a written request for window guards, operators generally complete installation within the 30-day deadline regardless of whether a qualifying child is present. Leases and apartment notices must conspicuously disclose tenants' rights under this section, and operators keep records of installations and requests to demonstrate ongoing compliance if the Building Bureau conducts an inspection or issues an order.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 174-16 gives tenants in New Rochelle multifamily buildings the right to have window guards installed in their apartment upon written request, and that right exists even if no child under 11 lives there. If a landlord fails to install guards after a written request or after a Building Bureau order, the Bureau can issue appearance tickets and the landlord may face fines of up to $250 per week of continued violation. Tenants who believe their rights under § 174-16 are not being honored can file a complaint with the New Rochelle Building Bureau, review the full ordinance text available at the Building Official's office, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available enforcement paths.

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.

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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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Fetched:Nov 7, 2026, 06:09 AM UTC