Cal. Civ. Code § 84
Construction standards for the control of noise
Operative Text
§ 84. Construction standards for the control of noise. On or before January first, nineteen hundred sixty-nine, the department shall formulate, adopt, promulgate and thereafter from time to time amend standards of sound retardation for the walls, partitions and floors and ceilings between apartments and between apartments and public spaces situated therein based on the direct measurement of sound transmission loss determined in decibels for various frequencies or in accordance with the ASTM sound transmission class system or in accordance with such other recognized method or system for measuring reduction of sound transmission as the department may determine to be appropriate. Any construction of a multiple dwelling commenced after January first, nineteen hundred seventy shall comply with the standards promulgated pursuant to this section in effect at the time of commencement of such construction.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 84 directed New York's housing department to establish measurable noise-reduction standards for the walls, partitions, floors, and ceilings that separate apartments from each other and from shared common areas. These standards are based on recognized acoustic measurement systems, such as the ASTM Sound Transmission Class (STC) rating. Any multiple dwelling whose construction began after January 1, 1970 must meet the standards that were in force at the time construction started.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 84, operators and developers of multiple dwellings built after January 1, 1970 are generally expected to verify that the building's original construction complied with the sound-retardation standards in effect when construction commenced. Compliant operators typically retain documentation—such as architectural specifications and materials records—demonstrating that walls, partitions, floors, and ceilings between units and common areas met the applicable acoustic ratings. When undertaking renovations that affect these structural elements, property managers often review whether the work triggers renewed compliance obligations under the standards promulgated pursuant to this section.
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 § 84 establishes that residents of multiple dwellings built after January 1, 1970 have an interest in knowing whether their building's sound-retardation construction met the standards required at the time of construction. If a tenant believes that inadequate sound insulation between units or common areas reflects a construction deficiency, that concern can potentially be raised with the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development or the relevant local housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents of affected buildings understand how § 84 standards may relate to broader habitability or building-code complaints.
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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