Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-10
Classification of buildings
Operative Text
Buildings, for the purpose of this chapter, shall be classified in respect to their occupancies as follows: A. One- and two-family dwellings: buildings containing one or two dwelling units with less than four lodgers residing with a family in either one of such dwelling units. B. Multiple dwellings. (1) Buildings containing three or more dwelling units. (2) Apartment houses and apartment hotels. (3) Rooming houses. (4) Buildings with sleeping accommodations for more than five persons, used or occupied as a club, dormitory, fraternity or sorority house or for similar uses. (5) Garden apartments. C. Accessory structures: garages, carports and similar types of structures on residential premises.
Section 149-10 of Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 establishes a classification system that sorts residential buildings into three broad categories for the purposes of the chapter: one- and two-family dwellings (which includes buildings with up to two units and fewer than four lodgers living with a family), multiple dwellings (which covers buildings with three or more units, apartment houses, rooming houses, dormitories, clubs, and similar group-living arrangements), and accessory structures such as garages and carports on residential property. These classifications determine how the rest of the chapter's rules apply to a given building. The category a building falls into can affect which regulatory requirements govern its use and occupancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers in Mount Vernon should be aware that § 149-10 of ch. 149 assigns each residential building to a specific classification—one- and two-family dwelling, multiple dwelling, or accessory structure—based on the number of units, the number of lodgers, and the nature of the occupancy. Compliant operators generally ensure that their buildings are accurately categorized, since the classification determines which provisions of the chapter apply to their property. Operators who add units, change the use of a structure, or take in lodgers may find that their building's classification shifts, bringing different regulatory obligations into play.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 149-10 of Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149, the type of building a tenant lives in—whether a single-family home, a rooming house, an apartment building, or another covered structure—determines which protections and requirements under the chapter apply to that tenancy. Tenants who believe their building has been misclassified, or who want to understand which rules govern their living situation, can review the classification definitions in this section as a starting point. Local tenant-rights organizations or the relevant municipal office can help tenants understand how their building's classification affects their rights under the broader chapter.
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.