• Codes
  • Features

    Features Overview

    Go to features
    Reference

    Reference.

    A reliable and up-to-date source of codes.
    Research

    Research.

    Rapidly and efficiently calculate project parameters.
    Collaboration

    Collaboration.

    Get everyone on the same page and streamline code research.
    Workflows
    Architects General Contractor Building Official & Plans Examiner Inspectors Owner Subcontractors Code Consultants
  • Pricing
  • Login
  • Sign Up
Sign Up
Login
  • Code Library
  • Features
  • Pricing
  • About
  • Careers
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Terms
  • Privacy
Sign Up
Upgrade to Premium
Code calculators: Code Calculators automatically generates a detailed list of requirements.
REFERENCE
Amendment Styling
Industry-leading search
Suggested code sections
Code diagrams
RESEARCH
Code calculators
Filter by topic
Code compare
Code sheet exports
COLLABORATION
Team projects
Bookmarks
Comments
START 2 WEEK FREE TRIAL
Have an account? Sign in
// CODE SNIPPET

Article 3 Standards of Natural Light

NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 3 Standards of Natural Light
JUMP TO FULL CODE CHAPTER

§27-732 Natural Light Requirements

buildings bulletin
Linked Resources Available

This section has been clarified by a buildings bulletin issued by the Department of Buildings.

Learn more in the Linked Resources panel on the right.
Every habitable room shall be provided with natural light complying with the provisions of this subchapter.

§27-733 Natural Light Sources and Location

(a) Natural light, when required, shall be provided by windows, skylights, monitors, glazed doors, transoms, fixed lights, jalousies or other natural-light transmitting media. Such sources shall not be located in recesses having a width of less than six feet, and such sources shall not be located so as to create a habitable room whose depth exceeds thirty feet, except in dwelling units of group one construction containing more than three habitable rooms. Such sources, except as provided in subdivision (b) of this section, shall face or open upon the sky or upon a public street, space, alley, park, highway, or right of way, or upon a yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback, when such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback is located upon the same lot and is of the dimensions required by the applicable provisions of the zoning resolution. Where dwelling units in buildings or spaces classified in occupancy group J-1 or J-2 are located in a cellar or a basement such dwelling unit or units shall have at least one-half of their height and all of their 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 outside the dwelling unit or units not less than thirty feet in its least dimension and abutting at same level or directly below every part of the exterior walls of such dwelling unit or units. Such "adequate adjacent space" shall include only spaces which are located on the same lot or plot as the building or on a public street, space, alley, park, highway or right of way and the level of such areas which abut or adjoin the habitable room at least shall be six inches below the window sills of any windows.

(b) Natural light sources may face or open upon an enclosed or partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback when 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, when such yard, court, plaza, or space above a setback is located upon the same lot and is of the same dimensions required by the applicable provisions of the zoning resolution, the maximum depth of any habitable room is at most thirty feet measured from the outer face of the wall forming the partial or full enclosure of the balcony or space, the enclosure of the balcony or space is not more than one story in height, and the balcony or space complies with either of the following:

(1) The front of the balcony or space above a setback has an opening to the outer air whose area is equal to at least seventy-five percent of the floor surface area of such balcony or space.

(2) The front of the balcony or space above a setback may be completely enclosed when the building is of group one construction provided the outer enclosing walls are glazed with clear plate glass or with plastic equivalent complying with subdivision (e) of section 27-331 of article four of subchapter five of this chapter and such glazed wall area is equal to at least fifty percent of the interior walls enclosing such balcony or space and at least fifty percent of the required glazed area is openable and no window from any bathroom, watercloset compartment, or kitchen whose area is fifty-nine square feet or less opens on such balcony or space.

§27-734 Area of Natural Light Sources

Required sources of natural light shall have an aggregate transmitting area of at least ten percent of the floor area of the room or space served and where an enclosed or partially enclosed balcony or space above a setback complying with section 27-733 of this article intervenes, the required sources of natural light shall have an aggregate transmitting area of at least ten percent of the combined floor area of such room and the portion of the balcony or space directly adjoining and in front of such room. Each required source shall have a minimum transmitting area of twelve square feet and only that area of the light source above thirty inches from the finished floor may be considered as providing the natural light required in any space.

Related Code Sections


Article 3 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control, Standards of Natural Light
Every habitable room shall be provided with natural light complying with the provisions of this subchapter ...
NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 3 Standards of Natural Light
§27-749 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control, Natural Ventilation Sources
Natural ventilation, when required, shall be provided by windows, skylights, monitors, doors, louvers, jalousies, or other similar ventilating ...
NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 6 Standards of Natural Ventilation > §27-749 Natural Ventilation Sources
§27-747 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control, Alcoves
An alcove or room opening off another room or space shall be considered as a separate room in determining its requirements for ventilation. However ...
NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 6 Standards of Natural Ventilation > §27-747 Alcoves
§27-748 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control, Balconies
Where an interior balcony or mezzanine opens to form part of another room or space, its area shall be added to the area of the room or space in which ...
NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 6 Standards of Natural Ventilation > §27-748 Balconies
§27-750 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control, Area of Ventilating Openings
Ventilating openings in all habitable rooms or spaces shall have a free openable area of at least five percent of the floor area of the room or space ...
NYC 1968 Code (Vol I) > 12 Light, Heat, Ventilation and Noise Control > 6 Standards of Natural Ventilation > §27-750 Area of Ventilating Openings
Help Contact Us Privacy Terms
Code Calculators
Code Calculators
Code calculators automatically generate a detailed list of requirements.
Code diagrams
Code diagrams
Unpack the code through illustrations and descriptions.
Code Compare
Code Compare
Highlight differences between any two building codes.
Code sheet exports
Code sheet exports
Generate a code sheet that integrates with your drawing set.
Shared projects
Shared projects
Projects provide a dedicated space to collaborate on code research.
Search
Search
Don't miss relevant code. Quickly locate sections across your jurisdiction.
UpCodes Premium
Leverage the most sophisticated code compliance platform.
TRY FREE FOR TWO WEEKS VISIT PRICING
UpCodes Premium
Leverage the full code compliance platform.
START 2 WEEK FREE TRIAL LEARN MORE