Every opening providing required natural light shall be so located so as to properly light all portions of the room. Openings providing required natural light shall be windows and/or glazed doors.
Exception: R-3 occupancies. Skylights, opening directly to the outer air, transparent or translucent panels, or other light-transmitting media, may be substituted for window openings in R-3 occupancies provided that they meet the minimum dimensional requirements of Section 1205.2.2.
Exception: R-3 occupancies. Skylights, opening directly to the outer air, transparent or translucent panels, or other light-transmitting media, may be substituted for window openings in R-3 occupancies provided that they meet the minimum dimensional requirements of Section 1205.2.2.
The minimum net glazed area shall not be less than 10 percent of the floor area of the room served. Every opening providing required natural light shall be at least 12 square feet (1.1 m2) of glazed area.
An alcove or room opening off another room or space shall be considered as a separate room in determining its requirements for natural lighting.
Exceptions:
1. Alcoves within R-3 dwelling units. In R-3 occupancies, where an opening between the alcove and the room or space is at least 80 percent of the area of the common wall and the floor area of the alcove does not exceed twice the area of the opening, the alcove and the room opening into the alcove may be considered as a single space.
2. Balconies, partially enclosed. Exterior openings required for natural light shall be permitted to open upon a partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback when:
2.1. Such balcony or space faces upon a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right of way; or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback where such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback complies with Section 1206;
2.2. The maximum depth of any habitable room is 30 feet (9144 mm) measured from the outer face of the exterior wall forming the partial or full enclosure of the balcony or space;
2.3. The enclosure of the balcony or space is not more than one story in height; and
2.4. The front of a partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback shall be open to the outer air with an open area equal to at least 75 percent of the floor surface area of such balcony or space.
3. Balconies, fully enclosed. Exterior openings required for natural lighting shall be permitted to open upon a fully enclosed balcony or space above a setback, including thermally isolated sunroom additions and covered patios, when:
3.1. Such balcony or space faces upon a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right of way; or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback where such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback complies with Section 1206;
3.2. The maximum depth of any habitable room is 30 feet (9144 mm) measured from the outer face of the wall forming the partial or full enclosure of the balcony or space;
3.3. The enclosure of the balcony or space is not more than one story in height;
3.4. The building is Type I or II construction;
3.5. The outer enclosing walls of the balcony or space are glazed with an area at least 50 percent of the area of the interior enclosing walls of such balcony or space; the glazing may be clear plate glass or slow burning plastic;
3.6. At least 50 percent of the glazed area required by Exception 3.5 of this section is openable; and
3.7. No window from any bathroom, toilet room, kitchen or kitchenette shall open on such balcony or space.
4. Mezzanines and split-level rooms. Where a habitable mezzanine or portion of a split-level room or space is not directly served by an opening providing natural lighting in accordance with Section 1205.2, such space shall be open for its full width with no obstruction, except for railings, to an adjoining habitable room which is provided with such window or other opening. The floor area of the mezzanine or portion of the split level room or space shall be added to the floor area of the adjoining room to compute the required lighting in accordance with Section 1205.2.1. The combined space shall also comply with Sections 1205.2.4 and 1205.2.7.
Exceptions:
1. Alcoves within R-3 dwelling units. In R-3 occupancies, where an opening between the alcove and the room or space is at least 80 percent of the area of the common wall and the floor area of the alcove does not exceed twice the area of the opening, the alcove and the room opening into the alcove may be considered as a single space.
2. Balconies, partially enclosed. Exterior openings required for natural light shall be permitted to open upon a partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback when:
2.1. Such balcony or space faces upon a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right of way; or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback where such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback complies with Section 1206;
2.2. The maximum depth of any habitable room is 30 feet (9144 mm) measured from the outer face of the exterior wall forming the partial or full enclosure of the balcony or space;
2.3. The enclosure of the balcony or space is not more than one story in height; and
2.4. The front of a partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback shall be open to the outer air with an open area equal to at least 75 percent of the floor surface area of such balcony or space.
3. Balconies, fully enclosed. Exterior openings required for natural lighting shall be permitted to open upon a fully enclosed balcony or space above a setback, including thermally isolated sunroom additions and covered patios, when:
3.1. Such balcony or space faces upon a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right of way; or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback where such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback complies with Section 1206;
3.2. The maximum depth of any habitable room is 30 feet (9144 mm) measured from the outer face of the wall forming the partial or full enclosure of the balcony or space;
3.3. The enclosure of the balcony or space is not more than one story in height;
3.4. The building is Type I or II construction;
3.5. The outer enclosing walls of the balcony or space are glazed with an area at least 50 percent of the area of the interior enclosing walls of such balcony or space; the glazing may be clear plate glass or slow burning plastic;
3.6. At least 50 percent of the glazed area required by Exception 3.5 of this section is openable; and
3.7. No window from any bathroom, toilet room, kitchen or kitchenette shall open on such balcony or space.
4. Mezzanines and split-level rooms. Where a habitable mezzanine or portion of a split-level room or space is not directly served by an opening providing natural lighting in accordance with Section 1205.2, such space shall be open for its full width with no obstruction, except for railings, to an adjoining habitable room which is provided with such window or other opening. The floor area of the mezzanine or portion of the split level room or space shall be added to the floor area of the adjoining room to compute the required lighting in accordance with Section 1205.2.1. The combined space shall also comply with Sections 1205.2.4 and 1205.2.7.
Where rooms within a dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling are located in a cellar or a basement, such rooms shall have at least one-half of their height and all of their required window surfaces above every part of an "adequate adjacent space." Such "adequate adjacent space" shall be open to the sky and shall be a continuous surface area not less than 30 feet (9144 mm) in its least dimension abutting at same level or directly below the exterior walls of every part of the basement and cellar portions of such dwelling unit. Such "adequate adjacent space" shall be spaces that are located on the same tax lot or plot in compliance with Section 1206.1 as the building or a public street, space, alley, park, highway or right of way and the level of such areas which abut or adjoin the habitable room shall be at least 6 inches (152 mm) below the window sills of any windows.
Where openings provide natural lighting to habitable spaces located in basements or cellars, such opening shall comply with the applicable provisions of Sections 27-2081 through 27-2087 of the New York City Housing Maintenance Code and Sections 26(8) and 34 of the New York State Multiple Dwelling Law.
No part of any room shall be more than 30 feet (9144 mm) from a window opening on a street or yard unless such room also opens onto a legal court in compliance with Section 1206.1.
Exception: In dwelling units containing more than three habitable rooms in R-1 or R-2 occupancies in buildings of Type I or II construction, rooms may be greater than 30 feet (9144 mm) in depth provided that all other requirements of Section 1205.2 are met and that the required windows are located so as to properly light all portions of the room.
Exception: In dwelling units containing more than three habitable rooms in R-1 or R-2 occupancies in buildings of Type I or II construction, rooms may be greater than 30 feet (9144 mm) in depth provided that all other requirements of Section 1205.2 are met and that the required windows are located so as to properly light all portions of the room.
Exterior glazed openings shall open directly onto a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right-of-way; or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback where such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback complies with Section 1206. No such opening shall be on a recess of less than 6 feet (1829 mm) in width.
Exception: Spaces located in basements or cellars shall also comply with Section 1205.2.3.
Exception: Spaces located in basements or cellars shall also comply with Section 1205.2.3.
Dimensions of windows and other glazed areas shall always be taken between stop beads or, if there are no stop beads, between the sides, head, and sill.
Only that portion of glazed areas higher than 30 inches (9144 mm) above the floor shall be considered as providing the required natural lighting.
The top of at least one window or other opening providing required natural lighting to a habitable room shall be a minimum of 7 feet (2134 mm) above the floor of the room or space served by the window or opening.
Exception: Mezzanines. Where the required natural lighting for a habitable mezzanine level is provided by a window(s) on the lower level in accordance with Section 1205.2.2, Exception 4, and where compliance with Section 1205.2.7.2 is not feasible on the mezzanine floor, Section 1205.2.7.2 shall not apply to such mezzanine floor provided that such window(s) is on the opposite wall from the mezzanine, and the top of such window is at least 12 inches (305 mm) above the floor of the mezzanine.
Exception: Mezzanines. Where the required natural lighting for a habitable mezzanine level is provided by a window(s) on the lower level in accordance with Section 1205.2.2, Exception 4, and where compliance with Section 1205.2.7.2 is not feasible on the mezzanine floor, Section 1205.2.7.2 shall not apply to such mezzanine floor provided that such window(s) is on the opposite wall from the mezzanine, and the top of such window is at least 12 inches (305 mm) above the floor of the mezzanine.