Cal. Civ. Code § 54
Cellar entrance
Operative Text
§ 54. Cellar entrance. There shall be a direct entrance to the cellar, or to the lowest story if there be no cellar, from the outside of every multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, except that in non-fireproof multiple dwellings erected after such date which are three stories or less in height and occupied by not more than two families on any story, any stair leading to such cellar or lowest story may be located inside the dwelling provided it is enclosed in fireproof walls and fireproof doors and assemblies with the doors self-closing, at both the level of such cellar or lowest story and that of the story above. No such outside entrance existing in any multiple dwelling on April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, shall be obstructed.
New York Multiple Dwelling Law § 54 requires that multiple dwellings built after April 18, 1929 have a direct outside entrance to the cellar—or to the lowest story if there is no cellar. A limited exception exists for non-fireproof buildings of three stories or fewer housing no more than two families per story, where an interior stairway may substitute if it is enclosed by fireproof walls, fireproof self-closing doors, and assemblies at both the cellar level and the story above. Additionally, any outside cellar entrance that already existed in a multiple dwelling as of April 18, 1929 may not be blocked or obstructed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings constructed after April 18, 1929 generally ensure that a direct exterior entrance to the cellar or lowest story is present and unobstructed, as required by N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 54. For smaller non-fireproof buildings that qualify for the interior-stair exception, compliant operators confirm that the enclosing walls, doors, and assemblies meet the fireproof and self-closing specifications the provision describes. Owners of pre-1929 buildings that had an outside cellar entrance on April 18, 1929 take care not to obstruct or eliminate that access point, since § 54 expressly prohibits doing so.
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 § 54 establishes a right to a properly configured cellar or lowest-story entrance in covered multiple dwellings, and prohibits landlords from blocking a qualifying outside entrance that existed as of April 18, 1929. Tenants who believe their building does not comply with § 54—whether because an exterior entrance is missing, obstructed, or an interior stairway lacks the required fireproof enclosure—may consider filing a complaint with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the relevant local housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a violation of § 54 might be raised in housing court or other enforcement proceedings.
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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