Port Chester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 197 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 197-16
Light and ventilation
Operative Text
A. Natural light in habitable rooms. Every habitable room shall have at least one window or skylight facing directly to the outdoors. The minimum aggregate area available for unobstructed light shall be not less than 8% of the floor area of such rooms. 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 lighting available at all times. C. 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. D. Light in public halls and stairways. 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 lighting facilities controllable by the occupants of the structure and available at all times. E. Electric outlets. Every habitable room shall have electric outlets properly connected to a source of electric power as required in § 197-13I . F. Electric fixtures 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. G. Ventilation inhabitable rooms. Every habitable room shall be ventilated by either openable areas equal to 50% of the required window area or by equivalent mechanical ventilation or 4% of floor area. H. Ventilation in bathrooms. Every bathroom, shower room, toilet room or compartment located in a structure used for human habitation shall be adequately ventilated.
Port Chester Code ch. 197 § 197-16 establishes minimum standards for light and ventilation in residential structures. Habitable rooms must receive natural light through windows or skylights covering at least 8% of the floor area, and must be ventilated either by openable windows equal to 50% of the required window area or by mechanical ventilation covering 4% of floor area. Non-habitable spaces such as stairs, hallways, cellars, laundry rooms, and bathrooms must have adequate natural or artificial lighting at all times, and bathrooms must also be adequately ventilated. Every habitable room must also have properly connected electric outlets, and all bathroom-type rooms must have permanently installed artificial lighting fixtures.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Port Chester are generally expected to ensure that every habitable room meets the natural light and ventilation thresholds set out in ch. 197 § 197-16, including windows or skylights of sufficient aggregate area and either openable ventilation or a compliant mechanical system. Compliant operators also maintain adequate lighting—natural or artificial—in all common areas, stairways, cellars, laundry rooms, and similar spaces at all times. Bathrooms and similar rooms require both permanently installed artificial lighting fixtures and adequate ventilation, and habitable rooms must have properly connected electric outlets as cross-referenced in § 197-13I.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Port Chester residential buildings have a right to habitable rooms with sufficient natural light, proper ventilation, and working electric outlets under ch. 197 § 197-16, as well as adequately lit common areas, stairways, and non-habitable spaces. If a unit or building appears to fall short of these standards—such as a bathroom lacking a permanent light fixture or a room with insufficient window area—tenants may consider documenting the conditions and raising the violation with the appropriate Port Chester municipal code enforcement authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local housing codes can help residents understand what options may be available, including raising a code violation as a defense in certain housing 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
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation