Newark, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 90-50
Light and ventilation
Operative Text
A. Light in nonhabitable work space. Every laundry, furnace room and all similar nonhabitable work space located in a structure used for human habitation shall have either adequate natural or artificial lighting available at all times. B. Light in nonhabitable space. Every stair, hall, cellar and basement located in a structure used for human habitation shall have either adequate natural or artificial light available at all times. C. Light in public halls and stairways. (1) Every public hall and common stairway located in a structure used for human habitation and which is used primarily for ingress and egress in connection with two or more dwelling units or rooming units shall be supplied with a proper amount of natural light or artificial lighting facilities available at all times when light is required. (2) All lighting facilities located outside of any apartment are to be metered to the landlord on a separate meter and not connected to any tenant meter. D. Light in bathrooms. Every bathroom, shower room, toilet room or compartment located in a structure used for human habitation shall have permanently installed artificial lighting fixtures.
Newark, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-50 establishes lighting requirements for various spaces within residential structures. Nonhabitable work areas such as laundry and furnace rooms, as well as stairs, halls, cellars, and basements, must have adequate natural or artificial light available at all times. Public halls and common stairways serving two or more dwelling units must also be continuously lit, with the cost of that lighting metered to the landlord rather than tenants. Bathrooms, shower rooms, and toilet compartments must have permanently installed artificial lighting fixtures.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Newark, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-50, compliant residential property operators ensure that all nonhabitable work spaces, common hallways, stairways, cellars, and basements are equipped with functioning natural or artificial lighting at all times. Operators also install permanently wired artificial lighting fixtures in every bathroom and toilet room. Critically, any lighting in public halls and common stairways must be connected to a separate landlord-controlled meter, not billed through any tenant's electrical account.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Newark, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-50 gives residents of multi-unit buildings the right to adequately lit common areas, stairways, and shared spaces at all times, and requires that the cost of lighting those shared spaces fall on the landlord rather than tenants. If a tenant finds that common-area lighting is absent or that shared lighting costs are being charged to their meter, these conditions may constitute a code violation. Tenants can document the issue, raise it with the landlord in writing, or contact Newark's local code enforcement office; tenant-rights organizations can also help explain 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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