Cal. Civ. Code § 2
Legislative finding
Operative Text
§ 2. Legislative finding. It is hereby declared that intensive occupation of multiple dwelling sites, overcrowding of multiple dwelling rooms, inadequate provision for light and air, and insufficient protection against the defective provision for escape from fire, and improper sanitation of multiple dwellings in certain areas of the state are a menace to the health, safety, morals, welfare, and reasonable comfort of the citizens of the state; and that the establishment and maintenance of proper housing standards requiring sufficient light, air, sanitation and protection from fire hazards are essential to the public welfare. Therefore the provisions hereinafter prescribed are enacted and their necessity in the public interest is hereby declared as a matter of legislative determination.
Section 2 of New York's Multiple Dwelling Law sets out the legislature's foundational rationale for the entire statute. It identifies overcrowding, poor light and air, fire-escape deficiencies, and inadequate sanitation in multi-unit housing as threats to public health, safety, morals, and welfare. On the basis of that finding, the legislature declared it a matter of public interest to establish and enforce minimum housing standards throughout the state.
Plain English — not legal advice.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 2 establishes the policy backdrop against which all subsequent provisions of the Multiple Dwelling Law are interpreted and enforced. Operators of multiple dwellings generally understand that the statute's requirements—covering light, air, sanitation, and fire safety—flow directly from this legislative determination of public necessity. Compliance-minded property managers treat this foundational section as a reminder that the law's standards are not merely technical formalities but reflect a declared state interest in resident welfare.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 2 signals that the protections found throughout the Multiple Dwelling Law exist because the legislature specifically identified substandard housing conditions as a public harm. Tenants living in multiple dwellings in New York can point to this legislative finding when seeking to understand why the law imposes obligations on building owners regarding light, air, fire safety, and sanitation. Those who believe conditions in their building fall short of the standards the law was designed to address may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or a local housing agency for information about available remedies.
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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