Troy, NY Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)

Chapter 176 of the Troy City Code, titled the Minimum Housing Standards Code for Residential Dwellings and Multifamily Dwellings, sets the door standards for housing in the City of Troy, New York, in Rensselaer County. Section 176-17 reaches anyone who occupies as owner-occupant, or lets to another, a dwelling, multifamily dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit.

Subsection L requires every exterior door, door hinge and door latch to be maintained in good condition. Subsection M requires every exterior door, when closed, to fit reasonably well within its frame, and subsection N requires window and door frames to be built and kept so they exclude rain as completely as possible and substantially exclude wind. Subsection P is the egress rule: every door available as an exit must be capable of being opened from the inside easily and without the use of a key. Subsection T, added in 2016, covers exterior gates: gates, gate assemblies, operator systems if provided, and hardware stay in good condition, and latches at all entrances must tightly secure the gates.

A stricter rule applies to buildings that receive City money. Article II of Chapter 141 (§ 141-55 A(3)) says that during normal hours of occupancy all doors in exit paths must be operable for exiting without a key or any locking device other than a push-bar (exit bolt), that dead bolts are not permitted on any exit door, and that tandem doors must all be operable for exiting. Section 141-55 A(5) adds that doors in exits serving more than 75 persons must swing in the direction of exit travel. Section 141-65 limits that article to buildings and owners receiving monetary grants, loans or facade improvements, and § 141-54 C gives the Bureau of Code Enforcement the inspections. Where Chapter 176 conflicts with another City code, § 176-4 C lets the provision with the higher safety and health standard prevail.