Cal. Civ. Code § 276
Definition of an artist
Operative Text
§ 276. Definition of an artist. As used in this article, the word "artist" means a person who is regularly engaged in the fine arts, such as painting and sculpture or in the performing or creative arts, including choreography and filmmaking, or in the composition of music on a professional basis, and is so certified by the city department of cultural affairs and/or state council on the arts. For joint living-work quarters for artists limited to artists' occupancy by local zoning resolution, any permanent occupant whose residence therein began on or before December fifteenth, two thousand twenty-one shall be deemed to meet such occupancy requirements under the same rights as an artist so certified in accordance with applicable law.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 276, the term 'artist' has a specific legal meaning within the article governing joint living-work quarters: it refers to someone professionally engaged in fine arts (such as painting or sculpture), performing or creative arts (such as choreography or filmmaking), or musical composition, and who has been certified as such by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and/or the New York State Council on the Arts. The provision also establishes a grandfathering rule: any permanent occupant of a joint living-work space whose residency began on or before December 15, 2021 is treated as meeting artist-occupancy requirements under the same rights as a certified artist, even without formal certification.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating joint living-work quarters subject to N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 276 generally verify that occupants either hold valid certification from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and/or the NY State Council on the Arts, or qualify under the December 15, 2021 grandfathering provision. Compliant operators typically maintain documentation of occupant status to demonstrate that artist-occupancy requirements imposed by local zoning are being met. Understanding the distinction between certified artists and grandfathered occupants under § 276 is a routine part of managing these specialized residential spaces.
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 § 276, tenants living in joint living-work quarters may have occupancy rights either through formal artist certification from the NYC Department of Cultural Affairs and/or the NY State Council on the Arts, or through the grandfathering provision if their residency in the unit began on or before December 15, 2021. Tenants who believe their occupancy rights under § 276 are being challenged or misapplied may find it useful to gather documentation of their certification status or move-in date. Tenant-rights organizations and housing agencies familiar with artist live-work regulations can be a resource for understanding how this provision applies generally.
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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