Mineola, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 414 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 414-4
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER The Superintendent of Buildings, Senior Building Inspector, or Building Inspector of the Village of Mineola, or the delegates and assistants of such Superintendent or Inspector. DWELLING UNIT A structure or building, or part thereof, or an area, room or rooms therein, occupied or to be occupied by one or more persons as a home or residence. MIXED-OCCUPANCY BUILDING A building occupied in part for residential use and in part for some other nonaccessory use. See "multiple dwelling." MULTIPLE DWELLING Any of the following: A. A building designed or occupied for residential purposes by more than two families; or B. A series of attached, detached, or semidetached buildings which are provided as a group collectively with essential services and utilities and which are located on a lot, plot, or parcel of land under common ownership; or C. The residential part of a mixed-occupancy building. OWNER A. The owner or any other person or persons or entity or entities having the right to possession of a dwelling unit, except: (1) A public housing authority organized as such under the laws of the State of New York; and (2) A cooperative apartment corporation whose offering statement or prospectus has been accepted for filing by the New York State Attorney General under General Business Law § 352-e . B. A tenant will be considered to be an owner in relation to a subtenant. RENT A return, in money, property or other valuable consideration (including payment in kind or services or other thing of value), for use and occupancy or the right to use and occupancy of a dwelling unit, whether or not a legal relationship of landlord and tenant exists between the owner and the occupant or occupants thereof. RENTAL DWELLING UNIT A dwelling unit established, occupied, used or maintained for rental occupancy. RENTAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a dwelling unit by one or more persons as a home or residence under an arrangement whereby the occupant or occupants thereof pay rent for such occupancy and use. There is a rebuttable presumption that any occupancy or use of a dwelling unit is a rental occupancy if the owner of the building containing the dwelling unit does not reside in the same building.
Section 414-4 of Mineola, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 414 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the chapter's rental-housing regulations. It defines key terms such as "dwelling unit," "multiple dwelling," "owner," "rent," and "rental occupancy," ensuring that these words carry consistent, specific meanings whenever they appear in the chapter. Notably, the definition of "owner" extends to anyone with a right of possession—including tenants acting as sublandlords—while excluding public housing authorities and certain cooperative corporations. A rebuttable presumption of rental occupancy applies whenever the building owner does not live in the same building as the unit in question.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under ch. 414 § 414-4 should be aware that the chapter's definitions are broad: "owner" encompasses any person or entity with a right of possession, meaning that responsibilities under the chapter can attach to parties beyond the titleholder. Operators of buildings where they do not personally reside should understand that a rebuttable presumption of rental occupancy applies to those units, which may trigger additional obligations under the chapter. Compliant operators generally maintain clear records of occupancy arrangements and ownership structures to ensure the correct definitions apply to their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 414-4, a tenant who sublets to another person is treated as an "owner" with respect to that subtenant, which can affect rights and responsibilities under ch. 414. The broad definition of "rent" covers not just cash payments but also services or other valuable consideration exchanged for the right to occupy a dwelling unit. Tenants who believe a provision of ch. 414 applies to their situation—such as questions about whether a unit qualifies as a rental dwelling unit—may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the chapter's remaining sections for guidance on available remedies.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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