Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-50
Space requirements
Operative Text
A. Maximum occupancy. The maximum number of occupants of a mobile home shall be limited to the number determined on the basis of the square feet of floor area of habitable space, exclusive of habitable space used for cooking purposes, in accordance with the following: (1) For one or two occupants: 150 square feet. (2) For three occupants: 250 square feet. (3) For each occupant thereafter: 80 square feet additional. B. Height of habitable space. Habitable space shall have a minimum ceiling height of seven feet over 50% of the floor area; and the floor area where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered in computing gross floor area. C. Bathrooms and toilet rooms. Bathrooms and toilet rooms shall have provisions for privacy and shall be provided with floors of moisture-resistant material. D. Prohibited uses. Bathrooms, toilet rooms, kitchens and kitchenettes shall not be used for sleeping purposes. E. Exits. A mobile home shall have a safe and unobstructed primary exit and an emergency exit located remote from the primary exit.
Section 121-50 of Rensselaer's Code of Ordinances establishes minimum space and safety standards for mobile homes. It sets maximum occupancy limits based on habitable floor area (starting at 150 square feet for one or two occupants, with additional area required for each additional person), requires a minimum ceiling height of seven feet over at least half the floor area, mandates moisture-resistant bathroom floors and privacy provisions, prohibits using bathrooms, kitchens, or kitchenettes as sleeping areas, and requires both a primary exit and a separate emergency exit. These rules define the baseline conditions under which a mobile home may legally be occupied in Rensselaer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of mobile home properties in Rensselaer should ensure each unit complies with the occupancy, construction, and exit standards set out in § 121-50. Compliant operators calculate allowable occupancy using the square-footage formula—150 sq ft for one or two residents, 250 sq ft for three, and 80 additional sq ft per person beyond that—and do not rent or permit occupancy that exceeds those limits. They also maintain moisture-resistant bathroom floors, ensure ceiling heights meet the seven-foot threshold over at least 50% of habitable space, keep kitchens and bathrooms free from use as sleeping quarters, and verify that both a primary and a remotely located emergency exit remain safe and unobstructed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 121-50 of Rensselaer's Code of Ordinances, tenants in mobile homes have a right to occupy a unit that meets minimum space, ceiling height, bathroom, and exit standards. If a unit appears to be overcrowded beyond the formula-based limits, lacks proper exits, has bathrooms without privacy or moisture-resistant floors, or uses kitchens or bathrooms as sleeping areas, these conditions may constitute code violations. Tenants who believe their unit falls short of these standards can document the conditions, contact Rensselaer's local code enforcement office to request an inspection, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available 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.
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