Rochester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-13
Egress requirements (Rochester NY Property Code)
Operative Text
In every multiple dwelling over one story in height, every apartment, dwelling unit and rooming unit that does not, for its exclusive use, have direct exit to a street shall have access to at least one additional exit separate from and independent of the primary interior stairway or fire tower, constructed in accordance with the Building Code of the City of Rochester. In multiple dwellings of less than five units and less than three stories in height, hardwired interconnected smoke alarms may be installed in the basement and in all common areas on each level of the structure in lieu of the required second means of egress.
Rochester City Code § 90-13 establishes egress requirements for multi-story multiple dwellings, mandating that every apartment, dwelling unit, and rooming unit without its own direct street exit must have access to at least one additional exit that is separate and independent from the primary interior stairway or fire tower, built to Rochester's Building Code standards. For smaller buildings—those with fewer than five units and fewer than three stories—the code offers an alternative: hardwired interconnected smoke alarms installed in the basement and all common areas on each level may substitute for the required second means of egress. This rule is designed to ensure occupants have a safe escape route in the event the primary exit is blocked or compromised.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings subject to § 90-13 generally ensure that each unit lacking a direct street exit is served by a secondary egress pathway that is structurally independent of the main stairway or fire tower and meets Rochester Building Code specifications. Owners of smaller properties—fewer than five units and under three stories—who wish to use the smoke alarm alternative should confirm that hardwired interconnected alarms are installed in the basement and every common-area level, as the ordinance specifies. Routine inspections and documentation of both egress paths and alarm systems are practices commonly associated with maintaining compliance under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 90-13 of the Rochester City Code, tenants living in multi-story multiple dwellings have a right to a secondary means of egress that is independent of the building's main stairway or fire tower, unless the building qualifies for and has properly implemented the smoke alarm alternative. If a secondary exit appears to be missing, blocked, or not built to code, tenants can report the condition to the City of Rochester's code enforcement office, which oversees compliance with provisions like § 90-13. Tenant-rights organizations in the Rochester area can also help residents understand what options are generally available when egress requirements may not be met.
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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