Halfmoon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 80 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 80-6
Exceptions; applicability
Operative Text
A. Sales/Rentals by owners. (1) Nothing in this chapter (other than Subsection C) shall apply to: (a) Any single-family house sold or rented by an owner, provided that such private individual owner does not own more than three such single-family houses at one time; provided, further, that in the case of the sale of any such single-family house by a private individual owner not residing in such house at the time of such sale, or who was not the recent resident of such house prior to such sale, the exception granted by this subsection shall apply only with respect to one such sale within any twenty-four-month period; provided, further, that such bona fide private individual owner does not have any interest in, nor is there owned or reserved on his behalf under any express or voluntary agreement, title to any right to all or a portion of the proceeds from the sale or rental of more than three such single-family houses at one time; and provided, further, that the sale or rental of any such single-family house shall be excepted from the application of this chapter only if such house is sold or rented without the use in any manner of the sales or rental facilities or services of any person in the business of selling or renting dwellings, or of any employee or agent of any such broker, agent, salesman, or person, and without the publication, posting, or mailing, after notice, of any advertisement or written notice in violation of this chapter, but nothing in this provision shall prohibit the use of attorneys, escrow agents, abstractors, title companies, and other such professional assistance as may be necessary to perfect or transfer the title; or (b) Rooms or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four families living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one of such living quarters as his residence. (2) For the purpose of this exemption, a person shall be deemed to be in the business of selling or renting dwellings if: (a) He has, within the preceding 12 months, participated as principal in three or more transactions involving the sale or rental of any dwelling or any interest therein; (b) He has, within the preceding 12 months, participated as agent, other than in the sale of his own personal residence, in providing sales or rental facilities or sales or rental services in two or more transactions involving the sale or rental of any dwelling of any interest therein; or (c) He is the owner of any dwelling designed or intended for occupancy, or occupied by five or more families. B. Sales/Rentals by religious organizations. Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a religious organization, association, or society, or any nonprofit institution or organization operated, supervised, or controlled by or in conjunction with a religious organization, association or society, from limiting the sale, rental, or occupancy of dwelling which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose to a person of the same religion or from giving preference to such persons, unless membership in such religion is restricted on account of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, handicap or familial status, nor shall anything in this chapter prohibit a private club not in fact open to the public which, as an incident to its primary purposes, provides lodgings which it owns or operates for other than a commercial purpose from limiting the rental or occupancy of such lodgings to its members or from giving preference to its members. C. Applicability. (1) Nothing in this chapter limits the applicability of any reasonable local, state, or federal restrictions regarding the maximum number of occupants permitted to occupy a dwelling, nor does any provision in this chapter regarding familial status apply with respect to housing for older persons. (2) Housing for older persons. (a) As used in this Subsection C , "housing for older persons" means housing: [1] Provided under any state or federal program that the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development determines is specifically designed and operated to assist elderly persons (as defined in the state or federal program); [2] Intended for, and solely occupied by, persons 62 years of age or older; or [3] Intended and operated for occupancy by at least one person 55 years of age or older per unit. (b) Housing shall not fail to meet the requirements for housing for older persons by reason of: [1] Persons residing in such housing as of the date of enactment of this chapter who do not meet the age requirements of Subsection C(2)(b) or (c), provided that new occupants of such housing meet the age requirements of Subsection C(2)(b) or (c); or [2] Unoccupied units, provided that such units are reserved for occupancy by persons who meet the age requirements of Subsection C(2)(b) or (c). (3) Nothing in this chapter prohibits conduct against a person because such person has been convicted by any court of competent jurisdiction of the illegal manufacture or distribution of a controlled substance as defined in Section 102 of the Controlled Substances Act (21 U.S.C. § 802 ). (4) Nothing in this chapter requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of other individuals or whose tenancy would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
Halfmoon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 80 § 80-6 carves out specific situations where the town's fair-housing chapter does not apply. Small-scale private owners selling or renting single-family homes without professional real-estate assistance, owner-occupied buildings with four or fewer units, religious organizations limiting occupancy to members of their faith, and housing designated for older persons are among the categories that fall outside the chapter's general requirements. The provision also preserves the enforceability of occupancy-limit laws, permits exclusions based on drug-manufacture convictions, and allows housing providers to decline applicants who pose a direct threat to others' health, safety, or property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators covered by Halfmoon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 80 § 80-6 generally review whether their property or transaction qualifies for one of the enumerated exceptions before assuming the chapter's anti-discrimination rules do not apply. A private individual owner claiming the single-family exemption typically confirms they own no more than three such homes at once, are not using a broker or agent, and are not publishing any advertisement that would otherwise violate the chapter. Owner-occupants of small multi-family buildings (four units or fewer) similarly verify that they personally reside in one of the units, since that residency is a condition of the exemption under § 80-6(A)(1)(b).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Halfmoon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 80 § 80-6, the exceptions to the town's fair-housing protections are narrowly defined, meaning most rental situations—particularly those involving brokers, larger buildings, or owners with more than three single-family homes—remain fully covered by the chapter. Tenants who believe a landlord is improperly claiming an exemption to justify discriminatory treatment may consider documenting the circumstances and exploring complaint options through state or federal fair-housing channels. Tenant-rights organizations and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development can provide general information about whether a claimed exception under § 80-6 appears to be valid.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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