Can Two People Live in a Studio Apartment in NYC?

Question

Accepted Answer

Yes, two people can legally live in a studio apartment in New York City — but there are both legal and practical considerations to understand first.

Legal occupancy rules for NYC studios: Under NYC's Housing Maintenance Code, the minimum space per occupant is 80 square feet of livable floor area for adults. For a typical 350–450 sq ft studio, two adults meet the legal minimum.

Under the NYC Roommate Law (Real Property Law § 235-f):

If one person is on the lease, they have the legal right to have one additional occupant (roommate)
Both people must inform the landlord of the additional occupant within 30 days of move-in
The landlord cannot prohibit the second occupant or require them to undergo a credit check

Practical considerations for two people in a studio:

Privacy is essentially zero — you share the same open space for sleeping, living and working
An alcove studio is significantly better for couples — the sleeping nook provides at least some spatial separation
Storage becomes critical — two people's belongings in a small studio require aggressive organization from day one
Agree on routines upfront — different sleep schedules, work hours or social habits create friction in a shared studio far more than in a larger apartment

Cost-sharing in a NYC studio: The primary financial advantage of two people in a studio is cost-sharing. At $2,800/month, two people each pay $1,400 — less than the cost of a private room in a shared apartment in most NYC neighborhoods.