Cal. Civ. Code § 11
Dwellings damaged or moved
Operative Text
§ 11. Dwellings damaged or moved. 1. If a multiple dwelling be damaged by fire or other cause to the extent of two-thirds or more of its value at the time of such damage exclusive of the value of the foundation, such dwelling shall not be repaired or rebuilt except in conformity with the provisions of this chapter relative to dwellings erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine. 2. If any non-fireproof stair in any multiple dwelling be damaged by fire or other cause to such extent that such stair or the first flight thereof above the entrance story is required to be rebuilt, such stair to the extent that it is required to be rebuilt shall be fire-retarded throughout. 3. If any dwelling be moved from one lot to another, such dwelling shall thereupon be made to conform to all the provisions of this chapter relative to light, ventilation, fire protection and egress of a dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, but no frame building of any kind whatsoever shall be moved so as to be placed upon the same lot with any multiple dwelling, nor shall any multiple dwelling be moved so as to be placed upon the same lot with any frame building.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 11, a multiple dwelling that sustains damage equal to two-thirds or more of its pre-damage value (excluding the foundation) cannot simply be restored to its prior condition — it must be rebuilt to meet the standards that apply to buildings constructed after April 18, 1929. Similarly, if a non-fireproof stairway is damaged badly enough to require rebuilding, the rebuilt portion must be fire-retarded throughout. When any dwelling is relocated to a new lot, it must be brought into full compliance with the post-1929 standards for light, ventilation, fire protection, and egress, and the law prohibits placing a frame building on the same lot as a multiple dwelling under any circumstances.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers overseeing multiple dwellings should be aware that N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 11 triggers heightened compliance obligations whenever significant damage or relocation occurs. A compliant operator generally ensures that any repair or rebuilding project following substantial damage is evaluated against the two-thirds-of-value threshold, and that construction plans reflect the post-April 18, 1929 standards if that threshold is met. Operators also typically verify that any stairway reconstruction incorporates fire-retardant materials throughout the rebuilt section, and that no frame building is introduced onto a lot shared with a multiple dwelling.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in a multiple dwelling that has been substantially damaged or relocated may have rights under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 11 if the rebuilt structure does not meet the required post-1929 standards for safety, fire protection, and egress. If a building appears to have been repaired or rebuilt without conforming to these standards, tenants can raise that non-compliance as a concern with local housing or building code enforcement agencies. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand whether a violation of § 11 may be relevant to their housing situation and what general enforcement paths — such as filing a complaint with the appropriate municipal authority — may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.