Int. No. 1479
By Council Member Feliz
A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York and the New York city building code, in relation to minimum living room size requirements in multiple dwelling units
Be it enacted by the Council as follows:
Section 1. Subdivision a of section 27-2074 of the administrative code of the city of New York is amended to read as follows:
a. In all multiple dwellings erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine, every living room shall have a minimum height of eight feet, except as required for cellars and basements in section 27-2082 or 27-2083 of article five of this subchapter. In a multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine pursuant to plans filed and approved prior to December ninth, nineteen hundred fifty-five, and classified and recorded in the department, at least one living room in an apartment shall have a minimum floor area of one hundred thirty-two square feet; if erected, constructed or altered pursuant to plans filed on or after December ninth, nineteen hundred fifty-five, one living room shall have a minimum floor area of one hundred fifty square feet. Every other living room of an apartment in a multiple dwelling erected after April eighteenth, nineteen hundred twenty-nine pursuant to plans filed and approved prior to January first, two thousand twenty-seven and classified and recorded in the department, shall contain eighty square feet and have a least minimum dimension of eight feet. Every other living room of an apartment in a multiple dwelling erected on or after January first, two thousand twenty-seven shall contain one hundred ten square feet and have a least minimum dimension of ten feet, except:
(1) A kitchen;
(2) A room complying with the light and ventilation requirements of subdivision a of section 27-2058 of article one of this subchapter, which has an opening of not less than sixty square feet into an immediately adjoining room, may have a minimum floor area of seventy square feet and a least horizontal dimension of seven feet;
(3) A dining space complying with the light and ventilation requirements of subdivision f of section 27-2058 of article one of this subchapter;
(4) One-half the number of bedrooms in an apartment containing three or more bedrooms may have a least minimum dimension of [seven] eight feet;
(5) A room in a class B multiple dwelling may have a floor area of sixty square feet and a least minimum dimension of six feet;
(6) A room in a lodging house, other than an apartment occupied by the owner, janitor, superintendent or caretaker, shall comply with the provisions of section sixty-six of the multiple dwelling law and rules and regulations issued pursuant thereto by the department. No living room, except dormitories in a lodging house, shall be subdivided or otherwise enclosed unless each such portion complies with the provisions of this section and those for light and ventilation required in section 27-2058 of article one of this subchapter.
§ 2. Section 1208.1 of the New York city building code, as amended by local law number 126 for the year 2021, is amended to read as follows:
1208.1 Minimum room widths. Habitable spaces, other than a kitchen, shall be not less than 8 feet (2438.4mm) in any plan dimension. Kitchens and kitchenettes shall have a clear passageway of not less than 3 feet (914.4 mm) between counter fronts and appliances or counter fronts and walls.
Exceptions:
1. A room that complies with the requirements for natural light and natural ventilation and in addition has an unobstructed opening of not less than 60 square feet (5.6 m 2 ) into an immediately adjoining room shall be not less than 7 feet (2133.6 mm) in any plan dimension.
2. A habitable dining space that complies with the requirements for natural light and natural ventilation may be less than 8 feet (2438.4 mm) in any plan dimension.
3. One-half the number of bedrooms in a dwelling unit containing 3 or more bedrooms shall be not less than [7] 8 feet ([2133.6] 2743.2 mm) in any plan dimension.
4. A room in a group R-1 dwelling or sleeping unit shall be not less than 6 feet (1828.8 mm) in any plan dimension.
5. A habitable room or space, other than a kitchen, in a group R-2 dwelling unit shall be not less than 10 feet (3048 mm) in any plan dimension.
§ 3. Section 1208.3.1 of the New York city building code, as amended by local law number 126 for the year 2021, is amended to read as follows:
1208.3.1 Habitable rooms and spaces. Every habitable room or space shall have not less than 80 square feet (7.4 m 2 ) in net floor area.
Exceptions:
1. A room that complies with the requirements for natural light and natural ventilation and in addition has an unobstructed opening of not less than 60 square feet (5.6 m 2 ) into an immediately adjoining room shall have not less than 70 square feet (6.5 m 2 ) of net floor area.
2. A habitable dining space, as defined by the New York City Housing Maintenance Code, that complies with the requirements for natural light and natural ventilation may have less than 80 square feet (7.4 m 2 ) of net floor area.
3. A room in a Group R-1 dwelling unit shall have not less than 60 square feet (5.6 m 2 ) of net floor area.
4. A habitable room or space in a group R-2 dwelling unit shall not have less than 110 square feet (10.2 m 2 ) in net floor area.
§ 4. This local law takes effect January 1, 2027.
NNB
LS #19353
6/6/2025 1:21 PM