Cal. Civ. Code § 51
Shafts, elevators and dumbwaiters
Operative Text
§ 51. Shafts, elevators and dumbwaiters. 1. Every shaft constructed after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, in any multiple dwelling shall be enclosed on all sides with fireproof walls and shall have fireproof doors and assemblies at all openings, with the doors self-closing. Dumbwaiter shafts, except those adjoining public halls, may be constructed with walls of gypsum plaster blocks approved by the department, at least two inches thick if solid and at least three inches thick if hollow. 2. All dumbwaiter doors constructed after such date shall be fastened by an interior lock in the shaft operated and controlled from a central point in the cellar or lowest story if there be no cellar. 3. The doors of every elevator shaft constructed after such date shall be provided with an automatic device approved by the department to prevent the normal operation of the elevator unless the hoistway door at which the car is standing is closed and locked, or unless all hoistway doors are locked in a closed position. Such doors may have a vision panel of wire glass not exceeding one square foot in area. 4. Every elevator installed after such date shall be equipped with a gate with an automatic device approved by the department to prevent the normal operation of such elevator unless such gate is closed. 5. When any elevator or dumbwaiter constructed after such date opens into more than one stair, elevator vestibule or other public hall on any floor, such elevator or dumbwaiter shall be placed in a separate shaft. Not more than three elevators or two dumbwaiters shall ever be placed in the same shaft. 6. Every dwelling erected after such date which exceeds six stories or sixty feet in height shall be equipped with one or more passenger elevators, operative at all times, at least one of which shall be accessible to every apartment above the entrance story. 7. In every multiple dwelling, elevator shafts, not previously enclosed to the satisfaction of the department, shall be enclosed with fireproof walls and shall have fireproof doors and assemblies, with the doors self-closing.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 51 establishes construction and operational standards for shafts, elevators, and dumbwaiters in multiple dwellings. Shafts built after April 18, 1929 must be enclosed with fireproof walls and fitted with self-closing fireproof doors, while elevator and dumbwaiter doors must include automatic locking or safety devices to prevent unsafe operation. Buildings taller than six stories or sixty feet erected after that date are required to have at least one continuously operative passenger elevator accessible to every apartment above the entrance story. Elevator shafts not previously enclosed to the department's satisfaction must also be retrofitted with fireproof enclosures and self-closing doors, regardless of when they were built.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings should be familiar with the shaft, elevator, and dumbwaiter requirements set out in N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 51, which governs both new construction and existing conditions. Compliant building managers generally ensure that elevator and dumbwaiter shafts are enclosed with department-approved fireproof materials, that all required automatic locking and safety devices are installed and functioning, and that buildings of the applicable height maintain at least one passenger elevator in continuous operation. Because § 51 also applies retroactively to elevator shaft enclosures not previously approved by the department, routine inspections and documentation of compliance with departmental standards are practices commonly associated with maintaining a lawful property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in multiple dwellings are protected by the shaft and elevator safety standards established under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 51, which requires properly enclosed shafts, functioning automatic safety devices on elevator and dumbwaiter doors, and continuous elevator service in taller buildings. If an elevator is frequently out of service, shaft doors appear unsafe, or enclosures seem inadequate, these conditions may represent potential violations of § 51 that can be reported to the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the relevant local housing authority. Tenants may also consider reaching out to a tenant-rights organization to better understand how conditions in their building relate to the standards described in this provision.
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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