Glen Cove, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 168 § 168-60
Presumptions
Operative Text
A. In connection with the investigation and prosecution of violations of this chapter related to occupancy, it shall be a rebuttable presumption that a building or dwelling unit zoned for single-family occupancy is occupied by more than one family if one or more of the following features are found to exist on the premises of that building or dwelling unit: (1) More than one gas meter, electric meter, or water meter. (2) More than one connecting line for cable or satellite television. (3) More than one doorbell or doorway on the same side of the building or dwelling unit. (4) More than one mailbox, mail slot, or post office address, or any combination thereof. (5) That there exists permanent partitions or "key locked" internal doors which may serve to bar access between segregated portions of the dwelling, including but not limited to bedrooms, or the inability of any occupant or person in possession thereof to have unimpeded and/or lawful access to all parts of the dwelling unit. (6) That there exists two or more kitchens, each containing one or more of the following: a range, oven, hot plate, microwave, or other similar device customarily used for cooking or preparation of foods, unless the existence of additional kitchens has been approved by the City in writing. (7) Separate written or oral rental agreements or leases or the payment of rent for portions of the building or dwelling unit among the owners or residents, or any combination thereof. B. It shall be presumed that a dwelling which has been advertised in any newspaper, magazine or local advertising publication as being available for sale or rent, which advertisement expressly or implicitly provides that such dwelling contains rooms for rent, more than one separate dwelling living unit, or may be occupied by more than one separate family, is being used as a dwelling containing the number of rooms for rent, dwelling units or families stated or implied in such. C. The presumption raised by proof of the existence of any such conditions set forth in Subsections A and B of this section may be rebutted by conclusive evidence that such conditions do not in fact exist, or conclusive evidence that the existence of such condition(s) is for a lawful purpose and do(es) not relate to illegal occupancy of said dwelling.
Glen Cove, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 168 § 168-60 establishes a set of legal presumptions that investigators and prosecutors may use when examining whether a single-family-zoned building is being occupied by more than one family. If certain physical or documentary indicators are found—such as multiple utility meters, separate doorbells, multiple mailboxes, locked internal partitions, additional kitchens, or separate rental agreements—the law treats multi-family occupancy as presumed to exist, shifting the burden to the property owner or occupant to disprove it. Advertisements that suggest a dwelling contains multiple rentable units or families trigger a similar presumption. These presumptions can be overcome by conclusive evidence that the conditions either do not actually exist or serve a lawful, non-occupancy-related purpose.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Glen Cove, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 168 § 168-60, compliant operators of single-family-zoned properties are generally careful to ensure that physical features of their buildings—such as utility meters, doorbells, mailboxes, internal door configurations, and kitchen setups—accurately reflect the lawful, single-family use of the structure. Operators typically avoid advertising language that implies multiple dwelling units or separate rental arrangements, and they maintain documentation showing that any features resembling multi-family indicators (such as a second kitchen) have received written City approval. Keeping clear records of the property's lawful use and any City-approved modifications can be important when responding to an investigation under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Glen Cove, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 168 § 168-60 affects tenants because the physical conditions of the unit they occupy—such as locked internal doors, separate meters, or multiple mailboxes—may be used as evidence in a code-enforcement investigation, even if the tenant did not create those conditions. Tenants who believe they are living in a unit that may be subject to an occupancy violation, or who face displacement as a result of enforcement action, may wish to review their lease and any written communications from the landlord regarding the unit's lawful status. Tenant-rights organizations in Nassau County can provide general information about how occupancy presumptions under this chapter may interact with a tenant's housing situation, and consulting such a resource is one available path for understanding options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.