Yonkers, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 58 § 58-16
Window guards
Operative Text
A. Definitions. When used in this section, the following words or terms shall have the following meanings: CHILD or CHILDREN Any person 10 years of age or younger. INSTALLATION OF WINDOW GUARD Proper installation and maintenance of window guards in a manner approved by the Department. LANDLORD An owner, agent or other person who manages or controls a multiple dwelling or dwelling units in a multiple dwelling. TENANT A lessee or other occupant regularly residing within a dwelling unit, regardless of whether said occupant is a party to a lease agreement. B. Installation responsibilities. (1) The landlord shall provide, install and maintain a window guard, of a type deemed acceptable by the Department, installation to be made pursuant to specifications provided by the Department, on the windows of each apartment in which a child or children 10 years of age and under reside and on the windows, if any, in the public halls of a multiple dwelling in which such children reside, except that this section shall not apply to windows giving access to fire escapes or to a window on the first floor that is a required means of egress from the dwelling unit. It shall be the duty of each landlord who manages or controls a multiple dwelling to ascertain whether such a child resides therein. This installation shall not be construed or allowed as a major capital improvement and the cost of funding cannot be passed along to the tenant. (2) No tenant of a multiple dwelling unit or other person shall obstruct or interfere with the installation of window guards required by Subsection B(1) , nor shall any person remove such window guards. (3) No landlord shall refuse a written request of a tenant of a multiple dwelling unit to install window guards, regardless of whether such is required by Subsection B(1) , except that this section shall not apply to windows giving access to fire escapes. (4) The provision of this section concerning installation responsibilities shall not apply to any dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling which is an owner-occupied condominium or cooperative dwelling unit. If the condominium or cooperative dwelling unit is not owner-occupied, then the provision of this section will apply. C. Notice to tenants. (1) All leases offered to tenants in multiple dwellings must contain a notice, conspicuously set forth therein, which advises tenants of the obligation of the landlord to install window guards and where further information regarding the procurement of such window guards is available. (2) The landlord must cause to be delivered to each residential unit within 30 days of a change of occupancy not involving a written lease a notice advising occupants of the obligation of such landlord to install window guards and where further information regarding the procurement of such window guards is available.
Yonkers, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 58 § 58-16 requires landlords of multiple dwellings to install and maintain approved window guards on apartment windows and public hall windows wherever a child age 10 or younger lives, with exceptions for fire-escape windows and first-floor egress windows. Tenants may not block or remove required guards, but they may also request window guards in writing even when no child is present, and landlords must honor that request. The cost of installing window guards cannot be treated as a major capital improvement or passed on to tenants, and all leases and move-in notices must include information about this obligation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Yonkers ch. 58 § 58-16, compliant operators proactively determine whether children age 10 or younger reside in any unit and arrange installation of Department-approved window guards on the relevant apartment and public-hall windows before or promptly after such occupancy begins. Operators also honor written tenant requests for window guards even when no child is present, excluding only fire-escape windows. Every new lease must contain a conspicuous window-guard notice, and when occupancy changes without a written lease, a notice must be delivered to the unit within 30 days; installation costs may not be passed to tenants as a major capital improvement or otherwise.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Yonkers ch. 58 § 58-16 gives tenants the right to have window guards installed if a child age 10 or younger lives in the unit, and also allows any tenant to submit a written request for window guards regardless of whether children are present. Tenants should be aware that landlords are prohibited from passing the cost of this installation on to them and must include window-guard information in leases and move-in notices. Tenants who believe their landlord is not complying may consider contacting the Yonkers Department of Housing or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available complaint and enforcement 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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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