Rochester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-3
Definitions (Rochester NY Property Code)
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: COMMISSIONER The Commissioner of Neighborhood and Business Development of the City of Rochester or legally designated representative. DEPARTMENT The Department of Neighborhood and Business Development of the City of Rochester. DIRECTOR The Director of Buildings and Compliance or legally designated representative. EXIT A way of departure on foot from the interior of a building or structure to the exterior at street or grade, including doorways, passageways, hallways, corridors, stairways, ramps, fire escapes and all other elements necessary for egress or escape. GRADE When a curb level has been established, "grade" is curb level. When a curb level has not been established or when the natural ground surface at the building is at a different level than the curb level, "grade" is, with respect to a building, the average ground elevation adjoining the building. JUNKED VEHICLE Any vehicle, including a trailer, which is without a currently valid license plate or plates and which is in a state of major disassembly, disrepair, or in the process of being stripped or dismantled. The Director or Commissioner or their designee shall make the final determination of whether a vehicle is a "junked vehicle" as defined herein. MIXED OCCUPANCY Occupancy of a building in part for residential use and in part for some other use not accessory thereto. MULTIPLE DWELLING A dwelling which is designed or intended to be occupied, or is occupied, as a temporary or permanent residence or home of three or more families living independently of each other, including but not limited to the following: a tenement, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment hotel, tourist house, bachelor apartment, studio apartment, duplex apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house, rooming house, boardinghouse, boarding and nursery school, furnished-room house, club-sorority house, fraternity house, college and school dormitory, or convalescent, old-age or nursing home or residence. It shall also include a dwelling two or more stories in height and with five or more boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family. UNLICENSED VEHICLE Any vehicle which does not display a current valid license or registration.
Section 90-3 of Rochester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 90 establishes the official definitions that govern how key terms are interpreted throughout the chapter. Words like 'multiple dwelling,' 'exit,' 'grade,' 'junked vehicle,' and 'unlicensed vehicle' carry specific legal meanings that may differ from everyday usage. These definitions set the boundaries for which buildings, vehicles, and situations fall under the chapter's regulatory scope, and they identify which city officials—such as the Commissioner and Director of Buildings and Compliance—hold authority under the chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Rochester should familiarize themselves with the definitions in § 90-3, since terms like 'multiple dwelling' and 'mixed occupancy' determine which regulatory requirements apply to a given property. A building occupied by three or more independent families, for example, qualifies as a 'multiple dwelling' under this section, which can trigger additional compliance obligations throughout Chapter 90. Operators who maintain vehicles on their properties should also note that the Director or Commissioner holds final authority in determining whether a vehicle qualifies as a 'junked vehicle' under § 90-3.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Rochester can look to § 90-3 to understand how the city classifies the type of building they live in and what official terms mean within Chapter 90. For instance, a building housing three or more independent families is defined as a 'multiple dwelling,' a classification that may affect what protections and standards apply to the property. Tenants who believe conditions in their building are not meeting chapter standards may consider contacting the Department of Neighborhood and Business Development or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on how § 90-3 definitions relate to their situation.
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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