Cal. Civ. Code § 65
Boiler rooms
Operative Text
§ 65. Boiler rooms. 1. Except as hereafter provided, in every multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, which is four stories or more in height the boiler shall be enclosed in a room or space constructed with fireproof walls extending from the floor construction to the ceiling construction, and all openings therefrom to other portions of the dwelling shall be equipped with fireproof doors and assemblies with the doors self-closing. However, in all multiple dwellings, on and after January first, nineteen hundred sixty-six, a room or space provided with a central heating plant shall be completely enclosed with incombustible materials having a standard fire-resistive rating of at least one hour. 2. In such a dwelling access to a cellar or lowest story in which a boiler is located shall not be through any boiler room, nor shall any cellar or basement stair or any shaft be installed within a boiler room. 3. The department shall have the power to make supplementary regulations relating to boiler or furnace rooms.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 65 establishes fire-safety construction standards for boiler rooms in multiple dwellings. In buildings of four or more stories erected after April 18, 1929, the boiler must be enclosed by fireproof walls running floor-to-ceiling, with self-closing fireproof doors on all openings. For all multiple dwellings as of January 1, 1966, any room housing a central heating plant must be fully enclosed with incombustible materials rated for at least one hour of fire resistance. Additionally, access to a cellar or lowest story containing a boiler cannot pass through the boiler room itself, and no cellar stairway or shaft may be installed within a boiler room.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings subject to N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 65 generally ensure that boiler enclosures meet the applicable construction standard for their building's age and height — either full fireproof wall-and-door assemblies with self-closing doors for taller post-1929 buildings, or at minimum one-hour fire-resistive incombustible enclosures for all buildings under the 1966 standard. Compliant operators also verify that building access routes to cellars or lowest stories with boilers do not pass through the boiler room, and that no stairways or shafts are located within that space. Because the relevant department retains authority under § 65(3) to issue supplementary regulations, property managers typically stay current with any additional agency rules governing boiler or furnace rooms.
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 § 65 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns if a building's boiler room appears to lack proper fire-resistive enclosure or if cellar access routes run through the boiler room in violation of the provision's requirements. Tenants who observe conditions that may not meet these standards can document what they see and report concerns to the local housing or buildings department, which has enforcement authority over multiple dwellings. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how § 65 interacts with other housing code protections and what complaint or defense options may be available.
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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