Cal. Civ. Code § 175
Alcoves
Operative Text
§ 175. Alcoves. 1. Every alcove, except a cooking space or foyer, shall be deemed a living room and shall open into an immediately adjoining living room which opens directly on a yard or street and in buildings not over two stories in height, such living room may open directly on an outer court or on a court, not less than four feet in width, extending from street to yard. Such an alcove shall be separately lighted and ventilated, and of such size as provided for other living rooms, unless it has an opening at least thirty-two and one-half square feet or more in area opening into a living room immediately adjoining. 2. No part of any room shall be enclosed or subdivided at any time, wholly or in part, by a curtain, portiere, fixed or movable partition or any other device unless each enclosed or subdivided part meets all of the requirements for a separate living room or a lawful alcove.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 175 governs how alcoves—spaces that are neither cooking areas nor foyers—are classified and constructed within residential buildings. Under this provision, most alcoves are treated as living rooms and must connect to an adjoining living room that itself has direct access to a yard or street, while also meeting independent lighting, ventilation, and size standards (or having a sufficiently large opening into the adjacent room). The section also restricts how any part of a room may be divided: curtains, partitions, portieres, or similar devices cannot be used to subdivide a space unless every resulting portion independently satisfies the legal requirements for a living room or a lawful alcove.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 175 generally ensure that any alcove in a multiple dwelling—other than a cooking space or foyer—is connected to a qualifying adjoining living room and meets the statute's lighting, ventilation, and size requirements. Compliant operators also avoid installing curtains, fixed or movable partitions, or similar dividers that would create subdivided spaces unless each resulting area independently meets the code's living-room or alcove standards. Routine inspections of unit configurations, including any tenant-installed room dividers, are a common part of maintaining compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 175, tenants have an interest in knowing that alcoves in their units must meet specific habitability standards for light, ventilation, and connectivity to adjoining rooms. If a unit contains a partition, curtain, or divider that creates a subdivided space that does not independently meet living-room or alcove requirements, that arrangement may constitute a violation of this provision. Tenants who believe their unit does not conform to § 175 can document the conditions, raise the issue with their local housing or building department, or reach out to a tenant-rights organization for general information about available complaint and enforcement processes.
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.
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