Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 245 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 245-10
Occupancy classification of buildings
Operative Text
Buildings for the purpose of Parts 1 and 2 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 no more than four lodgers residing with a family in either one of such dwelling units. B. Multiple dwellings: (1) Buildings containing one or two dwelling units with more than four lodgers with a family in either one of such dwelling units. (2) Buildings containing three or more dwelling units. (3) Apartment houses and apartment hotels. (4) Lodging houses. (5) Buildings with sleeping accommodations for more than five persons used or occupied as a club, dormitory, fraternity or sorority house, or for similar uses. (6) Garden apartments. C. Accessory structures: garages, carports and similar type structures on residential premises.
Section 245-10 of Sleepy Hollow's Code of Ordinances establishes how residential buildings are sorted into occupancy categories for the purposes of Parts 1 and 2 of Chapter 245. A building is treated as a one- or two-family dwelling only when it contains one or two units and no more than four lodgers live with a family in any single unit; once that lodger threshold is exceeded, or when three or more units are present, the building is classified as a multiple dwelling. The classification also covers apartment houses, lodging houses, dormitories, fraternity and sorority houses, garden apartments, and accessory structures such as garages and carports on residential premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 245-10, the occupancy classification assigned to a building determines which regulatory requirements of Chapter 245 apply to it, so operators generally confirm their building's correct category before assuming which rules govern them. A property that starts as a one- or two-family dwelling can shift into the multiple-dwelling category if the number of lodgers in any unit exceeds four, which changes the applicable compliance obligations. Owners and managers of mixed-use or transitional properties—such as those adding lodgers or converting units—typically track occupancy counts carefully to ensure the classification on record matches actual use.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 245-10 matters to tenants because the protections and standards that apply to their home under Chapter 245 depend on how the building is classified. Residents in buildings that may be misclassified—for example, a property functioning as a multiple dwelling but recorded as a one- or two-family dwelling—may have grounds to raise that discrepancy when seeking enforcement of applicable housing standards. Tenants who believe their building's classification does not reflect its actual occupancy can contact the Village of Sleepy Hollow's code enforcement office or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on how classification affects their rights.
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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