New York, NY Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- NYC Building Code § 27-371(j)(2)
- Applies to
- Occupancy group J-2 (residential) buildings
- Effective date threshold
- Erected/altered after Dec. 6, 1968
- Unit door hardware
- Dead bolt, latch set, chain guard, peephole
- Intercom trigger
- Buildings with 8+ dwelling units
Summary
NYC building code sets exact hardware for apartment building doors: heavy-duty locks on entrance doors, dead bolts with chain guards on unit doors, and peepholes.
Doors to dwelling units shall be equipped with a heavy duty latch set and a heavy duty dead bolt operable by a key from the outside and a thumb-turn from the inside. Those doors shall also be equipped with a chain guard so as to permit partial opening of the door. Dwelling unit entrance doors shall also be equipped with a viewing device located so as to enable a person on the inside of the entrance door to view a person immediately outside.
Full Breakdown
Under NYC Building Code § 27-371(j)(2), buildings in residential occupancy group J-2 erected or altered after December 6, 1968 must equip building entrance doors with heavy-duty lock sets and auxiliary latch bolts keyed to tenants only, and dwelling unit doors with a heavy-duty latch set, a key-and-thumbturn dead bolt, a chain guard, and a viewing device (peephole). Buildings with 8+ units also need a door-release intercom at the main entrance.
Violations & Fines
DOB and HPD enforce as a building-code violation; owners face DOB violation orders and civil penalties for missing or non-conforming entrance locks, dead bolts, or peepholes in covered buildings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does my NYC apartment door need a peephole?
Can the entrance door key open my apartment too?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New York
New York rules heatmap·Compare New York to another location·View the New York building safety overview
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