Cal. Civ. Code § 235-I
Unreasonable tenant fees for reproductions of keys
Operative Text
§ 235-i. Unreasonable tenant fees for reproductions of keys. A landlord shall not charge a tenant a fee for the reproduction of keys to a single dwelling greater than one hundred ten percent of the actual cost of reproduction, provided such limitation shall not apply if a tenant requires the reproduction of keys for a single dwelling more than three times in a calendar year.
Under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-i, when a landlord reproduces keys for a single dwelling unit, the fee charged to the tenant cannot exceed 110% of the landlord's actual reproduction cost. This markup cap is designed to prevent landlords from profiting excessively on routine key duplication. However, the cap no longer applies once a tenant has requested key reproductions for the same unit more than three times within a single calendar year.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Landlords operating under N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-i generally keep documentation of the actual cost they incur when duplicating keys—such as receipts from a locksmith or hardware store—so they can demonstrate that any fee charged stays within the 110% ceiling. Compliant operators track how many times a given tenant has requested key reproductions within the calendar year, since the fee limitation lifts after the third request. Maintaining clear records of both costs and request frequency helps support consistent, defensible billing practices.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Real Prop. Law § 235-i gives tenants a right to pay no more than 110% of the landlord's actual key-duplication cost for the first three key reproduction requests in a calendar year. If a tenant believes a charged fee exceeds that cap, options for addressing the issue can include raising the overcharge as a defense in a related proceeding, filing a complaint with a local housing or rent-regulation agency, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on available remedies. Keeping personal records of each key request, the date it was made, and any fees paid can be useful when evaluating whether a charge falls within the limits set by § 235-i.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.