Tenement Houses Hereafter Erected - not to be Roofed Over

Par. 1. No court of a tenement house hereafter erected shall be covered by a roof or skylight, but every such court shall be at every point open to the sky unobstructed. Except such courts as are provided for in section fifty-six, all courts, except for fire escapes, may start at the second tier of beams.

Section 58. Outer Courts

Tenement Houses Hereafter Erected on Lot Line

Par. 1. - The provisions of this section shall apply only to tenement houses hereafter erected. Where one side of an outer court is located on the lot line, the width of the said court, measured from the lot line to the opposite wall of the building, for tenement houses fifty feet or less in height shall not be less than six feet in every part and for every ten feet of increase or fraction thereof in height of such tenement houses, such width shall be increased one foot throughout the whole length of the court, and except where the court runs through from the yard to the street, said width shall never be less than one eighth of the length of the court.

Between Wings or Ells

Par. 2. - Where an outer court is located between wings or parts of the same building, or between different buildings on the same lot, the width of the court, measured from wall to wall, for tenement houses fifty feet or less in height shall be not less than twelve feet in every part, and for every ten feet of increase or fraction thereof in the height of the said building, such width shall be increased two feet throughout the whole length of the court. The depth of such courts shall never exceed four times their width.

Windows Opening On

Par. 3. - Wherever an outer court changes its initial horizontal direction, or wherever any part of such court extends in a direction so as not to receive direct light from the street or yard, or from an alley, or open passageway not less than fifteen feet in width, the length of that part of the court shall never exceed its width, such length to be measured from the point at which the change of direction begins. Wherever an outer court between parts of the same building is twelve feet or less in depth, its width may be one half its depth, provided that such width is never less than four feet in the clear. This exception shall also apply to every offset or recess in outer courts. And no window except windows of water-closet compartments, bathrooms, or halls shall open upon any offset or recess less than four feet in width.

Section 59. Inner Courts

Tenement Houses Hereafter Erected - Width - Area

Par. 1. - The provisions of this section shall apply only to tenement houses hereafter erected. Where one side of an inner court is located on the lot line and the building does not exceed fifty feet in height, the least width of the court shall be not less than eight feet, and the area of the court shall be not less than one hundred and twenty-eight square feet. For every ten feet, or fraction thereof, of increase in the height of the building above fifty feet the minimum width of such inner courts shall be increased by one foot, and the area thereof shall never be less than twice the square of such minimum width. Where an inner court is not located on the lot line but is inclosed on all four sides, and the building does not exceed fifty feet in height, the least width of said court shall be not less than sixteen feet and the area not less than two hundred and fifty-six square feet. For every ten feet, or fraction thereof, of increase in the height of said building above fifty feet, the minimum width of such inner courts shall be increased by two feet, and the area of the court shall never be less than the square of such minimum dimension.

Section 60. Vent Courts

Area - Least Dimension

Par. 1. - Inner courts used solely for the lighting and ventilation of water-closets, bath rooms, kitchenettes, public halls, or stair halls, or for interior fire escapes, may be constructed in any tenement house, and shall be not less than fifteen square feet in area, nor less than three feet in the least horizontal dimension for buildings fifty feet or less in height. For every increase of ten feet or fraction thereof in the height of such buildings, the least dimension shall be increased by one foot, and the area by not less than eight square feet. Vents for kitchenettes must be entirely separate from those used for water-closets and bath rooms.

[1921, c. 289, sect. 12.]