N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2015
Courts and shafts (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. The owner of a multiple dwelling shall whitewash the walls enclosing all courts and shafts not made of light-colored brick or stone or shall paint such walls a light color, and shall maintain them in a clean condition. b. As often as it deems necessary, the department may require the owner of a multiple dwelling: (1) To rewhitewash or repaint the walls enclosing courts and shafts not made of a light-colored brick or stone; and (2) To clean the walls enclosing courts and shafts made of a light-colored brick or stone. c. This section does not apply to: (1) Outer courts which open on a street; or (2) Courts which exceed the minimum dimensions set forth in section twenty-six of the multiple dwelling law by at least fifty percent.
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 & 27-2015, the walls enclosing courts and shafts in multiple dwellings must be whitewashed or painted a light color—unless they are already made of light-colored brick or stone—and kept clean at all times. The city's housing department retains ongoing authority to order repainting, rewhitewashing, or cleaning of these surfaces whenever it judges that necessary. The rule does not apply to outer courts that open directly onto a street or to courts that are at least fifty percent larger than the minimum dimensions required by the Multiple Dwelling Law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners of multiple dwellings subject to N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 & 27-2015 generally keep court and shaft walls whitewashed or painted in a light color unless those surfaces are already constructed of light-colored brick or stone. Compliant operators also maintain those surfaces in a clean condition on an ongoing basis and respond promptly when the Department of Housing Preservation and Development issues a directive to repaint, rewhitewash, or clean. Documenting the condition of these surfaces and the dates of any maintenance work can help demonstrate ongoing compliance if the department conducts an inspection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y.C. Admin. Code §§ 27-2001 & 27-2015 establish that tenants in multiple dwellings have an interest in courts and shafts being properly whitewashed or painted and kept clean, as this is a building-owner obligation enforceable by the city. If court or shaft walls appear unpainted, darkened, or dirty in violation of this provision, tenants may report the condition to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development, which has authority to order corrective action. Tenant-rights organizations and housing clinics can help residents understand how to document conditions and what remedies may be available under the Housing Maintenance Code.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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