Pelham, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 54 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 54-122
Efficiency apartments
Operative Text
Every dwelling unit occupied by two (2) or more persons that contains a room not intended primarily for either cooking or sleeping and is properly designed and equipped or especially furnished with kitchenette and bed furniture properly designed for daytime storage or other daytime uses, to be used as a combination of regular living and efficiency sleeping, may contain fifty (50) square feet less gross floor area than required in § 54-119C of this code but shall not be less than five hundred (500) square feet.
Section 54-122 of Pelham's Code of Ordinances establishes a special floor-area rule for efficiency apartments occupied by two or more people. When a dwelling unit includes a room that is not primarily a kitchen or bedroom but is properly equipped with kitchenette and convertible bed furniture for combined daytime living and sleeping use, the unit is permitted to be 50 square feet smaller than the standard minimum set by § 54-119C. However, no such unit may fall below an absolute floor of 500 square feet, regardless of the reduction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators managing multi-tenant dwelling units in Pelham should be aware that § 54-122 allows a 50-square-foot reduction from the standard gross floor area requirement under § 54-119C, but only when the unit is occupied by two or more persons and contains a properly equipped room combining kitchenette and daytime-convertible sleeping furniture. Compliant operators typically document that the qualifying room is not designated primarily as a kitchen or bedroom and that the unit still meets the 500-square-foot absolute minimum. Maintaining records of unit configurations and furnishings can help demonstrate conformance with these specific design and equipment criteria.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 54-122 of Pelham's Code of Ordinances, tenants living in efficiency-style units with two or more occupants have a right to a dwelling that meets the code's minimum space standards — no less than 500 square feet, even when the reduced-area allowance applies. If a unit appears to fall below this threshold or does not meet the design and equipment criteria that justify the reduction, tenants may consider raising the issue with Pelham's local code enforcement or building department. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Westchester County housing codes can help explain what options may be available under this provision.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation