State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Mre > Article-1 > 4

§  4. Definitions. Words and terms used in this chapter shall have the  following meanings:    1. "Alteration." Any  change  in  the  structural  parts  or  existing  facilities  of  any  building  or  the  moving  of any building from one  location or position to another.    2. "Apartment," or "suite." That portion of a dwelling  consisting  of  one or more living rooms, and occupied by the members of a family, which  group of rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    3. "Basement." A story partly below the curb level but having at least  one-half of its height above the curb level. A basement shall be counted  as  a  story in determining height, except as otherwise provided in this  chapter.    4. "Boarding house,"  "furnished  room  house,"  "rooming  house,"  or  "tourist  house."  A  multiple  dwelling,  in  which there are less than  thirty sleeping rooms occupied primarily by transients  who  are  lodged  with  or without meals, and in which there are provided such services as  are incidental to its use as a temporary residence. Also a dwelling  two  or more stories in height, occupied by one or two families and with five  or  more  transient  boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one  family.    5. "Cellar." An enclosed space in a dwelling having more than one-half  of its height below the curb level. However, where  a  dwelling  is  set  back from the curb level in such a manner that the enclosed space in the  dwelling  is above the curb level but at least one-half of its height is  below the land immediately adjacent to the dwelling, such space shall be  deemed a cellar. A cellar shall not be counted as a story.    5-a. "Child caring institutions."  Institutions  for  the  residential  care  of  children  operated  by  authorized  agencies as defined by the  social welfare law.    6. "Commission." The state building code commission in  the  executive  department of the state of New York.    7.  "Converted  or  conversion." A change from non-dwelling or private  dwelling use to multiple dwelling occupancy after July  first,  nineteen  hundred fifty-two.    8.  "Court." A space, other than a yard, on the same lot as a dwelling  and open to the sky. "Inner court." A court not extending to a street or  yard. "Outer court." A court extending to a street or yard.    9. "Curb level." The level of the curb at the center of the  front  of  the  building, for the purpose of measuring the height of any portion of  a building; except that where a building faces on more than one  street,  the  curb  level is the average of the levels of the curbs at the center  of each front. Where no curb elevation has  been  established  the  mean  level  of  the  land  immediately  adjacent  to  the  dwelling  shall be  considered the curb level, unless the municipal engineer shall establish  such curb level or its equivalent.    10. "Department." The department, bureau, division, agency  or  person  charged with the enforcement of this chapter.    11.  "Dining  bay,"  "dining  recess"  or "dinette." A recess used for  dining purposes off a living room, foyer or kitchen.    12. "Dormitory." Any room occupied for sleeping purposes  by  five  or  more  persons. A "cubicle" is a small, partially enclosed sleeping space  within a dormitory, with or without a window.    13. "Dwelling." A building or structure which is occupied in whole  or  in part as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more persons.    14. "Family." One or more persons with whom there may be not more than  four  boarders,  roomers  or  lodgers  all  living  together in a common  household. A boarder,  roomer  or  lodger  residing  within  the  familyhousehold  is  a  person  who  pays  a  consideration  therefor and such  residence is not an incident of employment therein.    15.  "Fire  alarm system." An approved system of sounding a fire alarm  or alarms installed in such a manner that it can  be  operated  manually  from any story.    "Fire-detecting   system."  An  approved  system  which  automatically  detects a fire or an abnormal rise in temperature and  actuates  a  fire  alarm.    16.  "Fire-escape."  A  combination of outside balconies and stairs of  incombustible materials, providing an unobstructed means of egress  from  a building.    17.   "Fireproof."  Made  of  incombustible  materials  with  standard  fire-resistive ratings not less than  those  required  for  a  fireproof  multiple dwelling.    18.  "Fireproof  multiple  dwelling." One in which the walls and other  structural members are of incombustible materials or assemblies  meeting  all  of  the  requirements  of  the  local  building  code for fireproof  construction, if any, and if there be none, then of the  state  building  construction  code  for  fireproof  construction  applicable to multiple  dwellings.    19. "Fire-retarded." Covered with metal lath  plastered  with  two  or  more  coats  of  cement or gypsum plaster or otherwise protected against  fire with materials of standard fire-resistive ratings of at  least  one  hour.  Fireproof  or fire-resistive material shall always be accepted as  meeting any requirement for fire-retarding.    20.  "Fire-resistive."  Covered  or   protected   with   incombustible  materials  of  standard  fire-resistive  ratings  of  at least one hour.  Fireproofing or fire-retarding shall always be accepted as  meeting  any  requirement for "fire-resistive" materials.    21.  "Fire-stair."  A  fireproof  stair,  enclosed in fireproof walls,  within the body of the building which it serves, to which access may  be  had only through self-closing fireproof doors.    22.  "Fire-stopping."  The  closing  of  concealed draft openings with  brick or other incombustible materials to form an effectual fire barrier  between stories, and between the ceiling of  the  upper  story  and  the  space under the roof.    23.  "Foyer." A space within an apartment or suite used as an entrance  hall directly from a public hall.    24.  "Frame  dwellings."  A  non-fireproof  dwelling  of   which   any  structural  member of its exterior walls is of wood. A structural member  shall not be deemed to include the veneer or facing of any such wall.    25. "Height." The vertical distance of a dwelling from the curb  level  to  the level of the highest point of the roof beams, except that in the  case of pitched roofs, it is the vertical distance from the  curb  level  to  the mean height level of the gable or roof above the vertical street  wall. An attic not used or arranged to be used for human occupancy shall  not be considered in measuring the height of a dwelling.    26. "Hotel." A dwelling in which there are  thirty  or  more  sleeping  rooms  in one building or structure occupied primarily by transients who  are lodged with or without meals; and there are provided  such  services  as are incidental to the use thereof as a temporary residence.    27.  "Kitchen." A space, fifty-nine square feet or more in floor area,  used for cooking or warming of food.    28. "Kitchenette." A space, less than fifty-nine square feet in  floor  area, used for cooking or warming of food.    29. "Living room." Any room in a multiple dwelling except:    a.  A  public hall, public vestibule, public room or other public part  of a dwelling;b. A hall, corridor or passageway  entirely  within  an  apartment  or  suite;    c.  A  foyer, the floor area of which does not exceed ten percentum of  the total floor area of the apartment or suite;    d. A kitchenette;    e. A dining bay, dining recess or dinette fifty-five  square  feet  or  less in area;    f. A bathroom or water-closet compartment.    30.  "Local  building  code."  The  building  code, if any, adopted or  enacted by a city, town or village and which is in force in  such  city,  town  or  village, or in such town or portion thereof outside the limits  of any village or city, respectively, or the state building construction  code where applicable with respect thereto.    31. "Lodging house." A dwelling, other than a hotel, in which  persons  are  housed  in a dormitory or dormitories, whether or not the space for  sleeping accommodations therein is divided into cubicles, for  a  single  night or for less than a week at one time.    32.  "Lot."  A  parcel  or  plot of ground which is or may be occupied  wholly or in part by  a  dwelling,  including  the  spaces  occupied  by  accessory or other structures and any open or unoccupied spaces thereon,  but not including any part of an abutting public street or thoroughfare.    a.  "Corner  lot." A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for  their full length upon streets or public places not less than forty feet  in width. Any other lot is an "interior lot." That portion of  a  corner  lot  in  excess  of one hundred feet from the widest street on which the  lot abuts shall be considered an interior lot.    b. "Front of a lot." That boundary line which abuts on the street, or,  if there be more than one street abutting, on the street  designated  by  the owner. "Rear of a lot" is the side opposite the front.    c.  "Depth  of  a  lot." The distance from the front of the lot to the  extreme rear line of the lot. The depth of an  irregular-shaped  lot  is  its mean depth.    d.  "Lot running through from street to street." A lot where the front  and rear lines abut for their entire lengths upon streets or open public  places. When either of such lines exceeds the other in  length  by  more  than  twenty  per  centum, that part of the lot contiguous to the excess  length of the longer line shall be deemed an interior lot.    e. "Back to back lots." Lots or portions of lots which are on opposite  sides of the same part of a rear line common to both  and  the  opposite  street  lines  on  which  the lots front are parallel with each other or  make an angle with each other of not more than forty-five degrees.    33. "Multiple dwelling." A dwelling which is  either  rented,  leased,  let  or  hired  out,  to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or  permanent  residence  or  home  of  three  or   more   families   living  independently of each other, including but not limited to the following:  a tenament, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment  hotel,  tourist  house,  bachelor  apartment,  studio  apartment, duplex  apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house,  rooming  house,  boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club,  sorority   house,   fraternity  house,  college  and  school  dormitory,  convalescent, old age or nursing homes  or  residences.  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.    34.  "Non-fireproof  dwelling."  A  dwelling  which  does not meet the  requirements for a fireproof dwelling.    35. "Occupied" or "used." Such terms shall be construed as if followed  by the words "or arranged, designed,  or  intended  to  be  occupied  or  used."36. "Owner." Owner or owners of the freehold of the premises or lesser  estate  therein, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents,  receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent, or any other person, firm or  corporation, directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling.    37.  "Premises."  Land,  improvements  and  appurtenances  or any part  thereof.    38. "Private dwelling." A dwelling occupied exclusively for  residence  purposes  by one or two families and having not more than four boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one family.    39. "Public hall." A hall,  corridor  or  passageway  not  within  any  apartment  or  suite  of  private  rooms. "Public vestibule." A hall not  within any apartment or suite or private rooms  providing  access  to  a  stair  or  elevator  and not wider than seven feet nor longer than twice  the width of the stair or elevator shaft opening upon such hall.    40. "Public part" or "public room." A space available for common usage  or used exclusively for storage purposes or for mechanical equipment  of  the dwelling.    41.  "Section."  A part of a multiple dwelling other than an apartment  or suite, separated as  a  unit  from  the  rest  of  such  dwelling  by  fireproof construction.    42.  "Shaft."  A  space  extending  through  one  or more stories of a  dwelling connecting a series of openings therein or any story or stories  and the roof, and includes exterior and interior shafts whether for air,  light, elevator, dumbwaiter or any other purpose.    43. "Shall." The word "shall" is always mandatory.    44. "Single-room occupancy." The occupancy by one or two persons of  a  single  room,  or  two or more rooms which are joined together separated  from all other rooms within an apartment in a multiple dwelling so  that  the occupant or occupants thereof reside separately and independently of  the other occupant or occupants of the same apartment.    45.  "Sprinkler  system."  A system of piping connected to one or more  sprinkler heads with fusible struts which will be constructed to fuse at  a specified temperature so as to discharge an effective spray  to  cover  the  area  to  be  sprinkled. Such system may be either an automatic wet  pipe type in which all pipes and sprinkler heads are at all times filled  with water when the building is occupied, or a dry pipe system in  which  the  pipes and sprinkler heads are filled with air, either compressed or  at atmospheric pressure,  and  the  water  supply  is  controlled  by  a  dry-pipe valve.    46.  "Stair."  A flight or flights of steps including any landings and  parts of public halls through which it is necessary  to  pass  in  going  from one level to another.    47.  "Stair  hall."  A  part  of  a  public  hall  through which it is  necessary to pass in going from the end of one flight of  steps  to  the  beginning  of another but shall not include an area that is also used to  provide direct ingress to and egress from an apartment or suite.    48. "Story." A space between the level of one finished floor  and  the  level  of  the  next higher finished floor, or, if the top story, of the  space between the level of the highest finished floor and the top of the  highest roof beams, or, if the first story, of  the  space  between  the  level  of the finished floor and the finished ceiling immediately above.  For the purpose of measuring height by stories of dwellings  erected  on  or  after  July  first, nineteen hundred fifty-two, one additional story  shall be added for each twelve feet or fraction thereof that  the  first  story  exceeds  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  for each twelve feet or  fraction thereof that any story above the  first  story  exceeds  twelve  feet in height.49.  "Street  wall."  A wall of a building, at any level, nearest to a  street line abutting the property.    50.  "Suite."  That  portion  of  a dwelling consisting of one or more  living rooms and occupied by the members of a  family,  which  group  of  rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    51.  "Window  dimensions." The measurements between the stop-beads or,  if there are no stop-beads, between the sides and the head and  sill  of  the sash opening.    52.  "Yard." An open space on the same lot with a dwelling between the  extreme rear line of the lot and the extreme rear wall of the dwelling.

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Mre > Article-1 > 4

§  4. Definitions. Words and terms used in this chapter shall have the  following meanings:    1. "Alteration." Any  change  in  the  structural  parts  or  existing  facilities  of  any  building  or  the  moving  of any building from one  location or position to another.    2. "Apartment," or "suite." That portion of a dwelling  consisting  of  one or more living rooms, and occupied by the members of a family, which  group of rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    3. "Basement." A story partly below the curb level but having at least  one-half of its height above the curb level. A basement shall be counted  as  a  story in determining height, except as otherwise provided in this  chapter.    4. "Boarding house,"  "furnished  room  house,"  "rooming  house,"  or  "tourist  house."  A  multiple  dwelling,  in  which there are less than  thirty sleeping rooms occupied primarily by transients  who  are  lodged  with  or without meals, and in which there are provided such services as  are incidental to its use as a temporary residence. Also a dwelling  two  or more stories in height, occupied by one or two families and with five  or  more  transient  boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one  family.    5. "Cellar." An enclosed space in a dwelling having more than one-half  of its height below the curb level. However, where  a  dwelling  is  set  back from the curb level in such a manner that the enclosed space in the  dwelling  is above the curb level but at least one-half of its height is  below the land immediately adjacent to the dwelling, such space shall be  deemed a cellar. A cellar shall not be counted as a story.    5-a. "Child caring institutions."  Institutions  for  the  residential  care  of  children  operated  by  authorized  agencies as defined by the  social welfare law.    6. "Commission." The state building code commission in  the  executive  department of the state of New York.    7.  "Converted  or  conversion." A change from non-dwelling or private  dwelling use to multiple dwelling occupancy after July  first,  nineteen  hundred fifty-two.    8.  "Court." A space, other than a yard, on the same lot as a dwelling  and open to the sky. "Inner court." A court not extending to a street or  yard. "Outer court." A court extending to a street or yard.    9. "Curb level." The level of the curb at the center of the  front  of  the  building, for the purpose of measuring the height of any portion of  a building; except that where a building faces on more than one  street,  the  curb  level is the average of the levels of the curbs at the center  of each front. Where no curb elevation has  been  established  the  mean  level  of  the  land  immediately  adjacent  to  the  dwelling  shall be  considered the curb level, unless the municipal engineer shall establish  such curb level or its equivalent.    10. "Department." The department, bureau, division, agency  or  person  charged with the enforcement of this chapter.    11.  "Dining  bay,"  "dining  recess"  or "dinette." A recess used for  dining purposes off a living room, foyer or kitchen.    12. "Dormitory." Any room occupied for sleeping purposes  by  five  or  more  persons. A "cubicle" is a small, partially enclosed sleeping space  within a dormitory, with or without a window.    13. "Dwelling." A building or structure which is occupied in whole  or  in part as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more persons.    14. "Family." One or more persons with whom there may be not more than  four  boarders,  roomers  or  lodgers  all  living  together in a common  household. A boarder,  roomer  or  lodger  residing  within  the  familyhousehold  is  a  person  who  pays  a  consideration  therefor and such  residence is not an incident of employment therein.    15.  "Fire  alarm system." An approved system of sounding a fire alarm  or alarms installed in such a manner that it can  be  operated  manually  from any story.    "Fire-detecting   system."  An  approved  system  which  automatically  detects a fire or an abnormal rise in temperature and  actuates  a  fire  alarm.    16.  "Fire-escape."  A  combination of outside balconies and stairs of  incombustible materials, providing an unobstructed means of egress  from  a building.    17.   "Fireproof."  Made  of  incombustible  materials  with  standard  fire-resistive ratings not less than  those  required  for  a  fireproof  multiple dwelling.    18.  "Fireproof  multiple  dwelling." One in which the walls and other  structural members are of incombustible materials or assemblies  meeting  all  of  the  requirements  of  the  local  building  code for fireproof  construction, if any, and if there be none, then of the  state  building  construction  code  for  fireproof  construction  applicable to multiple  dwellings.    19. "Fire-retarded." Covered with metal lath  plastered  with  two  or  more  coats  of  cement or gypsum plaster or otherwise protected against  fire with materials of standard fire-resistive ratings of at  least  one  hour.  Fireproof  or fire-resistive material shall always be accepted as  meeting any requirement for fire-retarding.    20.  "Fire-resistive."  Covered  or   protected   with   incombustible  materials  of  standard  fire-resistive  ratings  of  at least one hour.  Fireproofing or fire-retarding shall always be accepted as  meeting  any  requirement for "fire-resistive" materials.    21.  "Fire-stair."  A  fireproof  stair,  enclosed in fireproof walls,  within the body of the building which it serves, to which access may  be  had only through self-closing fireproof doors.    22.  "Fire-stopping."  The  closing  of  concealed draft openings with  brick or other incombustible materials to form an effectual fire barrier  between stories, and between the ceiling of  the  upper  story  and  the  space under the roof.    23.  "Foyer." A space within an apartment or suite used as an entrance  hall directly from a public hall.    24.  "Frame  dwellings."  A  non-fireproof  dwelling  of   which   any  structural  member of its exterior walls is of wood. A structural member  shall not be deemed to include the veneer or facing of any such wall.    25. "Height." The vertical distance of a dwelling from the curb  level  to  the level of the highest point of the roof beams, except that in the  case of pitched roofs, it is the vertical distance from the  curb  level  to  the mean height level of the gable or roof above the vertical street  wall. An attic not used or arranged to be used for human occupancy shall  not be considered in measuring the height of a dwelling.    26. "Hotel." A dwelling in which there are  thirty  or  more  sleeping  rooms  in one building or structure occupied primarily by transients who  are lodged with or without meals; and there are provided  such  services  as are incidental to the use thereof as a temporary residence.    27.  "Kitchen." A space, fifty-nine square feet or more in floor area,  used for cooking or warming of food.    28. "Kitchenette." A space, less than fifty-nine square feet in  floor  area, used for cooking or warming of food.    29. "Living room." Any room in a multiple dwelling except:    a.  A  public hall, public vestibule, public room or other public part  of a dwelling;b. A hall, corridor or passageway  entirely  within  an  apartment  or  suite;    c.  A  foyer, the floor area of which does not exceed ten percentum of  the total floor area of the apartment or suite;    d. A kitchenette;    e. A dining bay, dining recess or dinette fifty-five  square  feet  or  less in area;    f. A bathroom or water-closet compartment.    30.  "Local  building  code."  The  building  code, if any, adopted or  enacted by a city, town or village and which is in force in  such  city,  town  or  village, or in such town or portion thereof outside the limits  of any village or city, respectively, or the state building construction  code where applicable with respect thereto.    31. "Lodging house." A dwelling, other than a hotel, in which  persons  are  housed  in a dormitory or dormitories, whether or not the space for  sleeping accommodations therein is divided into cubicles, for  a  single  night or for less than a week at one time.    32.  "Lot."  A  parcel  or  plot of ground which is or may be occupied  wholly or in part by  a  dwelling,  including  the  spaces  occupied  by  accessory or other structures and any open or unoccupied spaces thereon,  but not including any part of an abutting public street or thoroughfare.    a.  "Corner  lot." A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for  their full length upon streets or public places not less than forty feet  in width. Any other lot is an "interior lot." That portion of  a  corner  lot  in  excess  of one hundred feet from the widest street on which the  lot abuts shall be considered an interior lot.    b. "Front of a lot." That boundary line which abuts on the street, or,  if there be more than one street abutting, on the street  designated  by  the owner. "Rear of a lot" is the side opposite the front.    c.  "Depth  of  a  lot." The distance from the front of the lot to the  extreme rear line of the lot. The depth of an  irregular-shaped  lot  is  its mean depth.    d.  "Lot running through from street to street." A lot where the front  and rear lines abut for their entire lengths upon streets or open public  places. When either of such lines exceeds the other in  length  by  more  than  twenty  per  centum, that part of the lot contiguous to the excess  length of the longer line shall be deemed an interior lot.    e. "Back to back lots." Lots or portions of lots which are on opposite  sides of the same part of a rear line common to both  and  the  opposite  street  lines  on  which  the lots front are parallel with each other or  make an angle with each other of not more than forty-five degrees.    33. "Multiple dwelling." A dwelling which is  either  rented,  leased,  let  or  hired  out,  to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or  permanent  residence  or  home  of  three  or   more   families   living  independently of each other, including but not limited to the following:  a tenament, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment  hotel,  tourist  house,  bachelor  apartment,  studio  apartment, duplex  apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house,  rooming  house,  boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club,  sorority   house,   fraternity  house,  college  and  school  dormitory,  convalescent, old age or nursing homes  or  residences.  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.    34.  "Non-fireproof  dwelling."  A  dwelling  which  does not meet the  requirements for a fireproof dwelling.    35. "Occupied" or "used." Such terms shall be construed as if followed  by the words "or arranged, designed,  or  intended  to  be  occupied  or  used."36. "Owner." Owner or owners of the freehold of the premises or lesser  estate  therein, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents,  receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent, or any other person, firm or  corporation, directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling.    37.  "Premises."  Land,  improvements  and  appurtenances  or any part  thereof.    38. "Private dwelling." A dwelling occupied exclusively for  residence  purposes  by one or two families and having not more than four boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one family.    39. "Public hall." A hall,  corridor  or  passageway  not  within  any  apartment  or  suite  of  private  rooms. "Public vestibule." A hall not  within any apartment or suite or private rooms  providing  access  to  a  stair  or  elevator  and not wider than seven feet nor longer than twice  the width of the stair or elevator shaft opening upon such hall.    40. "Public part" or "public room." A space available for common usage  or used exclusively for storage purposes or for mechanical equipment  of  the dwelling.    41.  "Section."  A part of a multiple dwelling other than an apartment  or suite, separated as  a  unit  from  the  rest  of  such  dwelling  by  fireproof construction.    42.  "Shaft."  A  space  extending  through  one  or more stories of a  dwelling connecting a series of openings therein or any story or stories  and the roof, and includes exterior and interior shafts whether for air,  light, elevator, dumbwaiter or any other purpose.    43. "Shall." The word "shall" is always mandatory.    44. "Single-room occupancy." The occupancy by one or two persons of  a  single  room,  or  two or more rooms which are joined together separated  from all other rooms within an apartment in a multiple dwelling so  that  the occupant or occupants thereof reside separately and independently of  the other occupant or occupants of the same apartment.    45.  "Sprinkler  system."  A system of piping connected to one or more  sprinkler heads with fusible struts which will be constructed to fuse at  a specified temperature so as to discharge an effective spray  to  cover  the  area  to  be  sprinkled. Such system may be either an automatic wet  pipe type in which all pipes and sprinkler heads are at all times filled  with water when the building is occupied, or a dry pipe system in  which  the  pipes and sprinkler heads are filled with air, either compressed or  at atmospheric pressure,  and  the  water  supply  is  controlled  by  a  dry-pipe valve.    46.  "Stair."  A flight or flights of steps including any landings and  parts of public halls through which it is necessary  to  pass  in  going  from one level to another.    47.  "Stair  hall."  A  part  of  a  public  hall  through which it is  necessary to pass in going from the end of one flight of  steps  to  the  beginning  of another but shall not include an area that is also used to  provide direct ingress to and egress from an apartment or suite.    48. "Story." A space between the level of one finished floor  and  the  level  of  the  next higher finished floor, or, if the top story, of the  space between the level of the highest finished floor and the top of the  highest roof beams, or, if the first story, of  the  space  between  the  level  of the finished floor and the finished ceiling immediately above.  For the purpose of measuring height by stories of dwellings  erected  on  or  after  July  first, nineteen hundred fifty-two, one additional story  shall be added for each twelve feet or fraction thereof that  the  first  story  exceeds  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  for each twelve feet or  fraction thereof that any story above the  first  story  exceeds  twelve  feet in height.49.  "Street  wall."  A wall of a building, at any level, nearest to a  street line abutting the property.    50.  "Suite."  That  portion  of  a dwelling consisting of one or more  living rooms and occupied by the members of a  family,  which  group  of  rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    51.  "Window  dimensions." The measurements between the stop-beads or,  if there are no stop-beads, between the sides and the head and  sill  of  the sash opening.    52.  "Yard." An open space on the same lot with a dwelling between the  extreme rear line of the lot and the extreme rear wall of the dwelling.

State Codes and Statutes

State Codes and Statutes

Statutes > New-york > Mre > Article-1 > 4

§  4. Definitions. Words and terms used in this chapter shall have the  following meanings:    1. "Alteration." Any  change  in  the  structural  parts  or  existing  facilities  of  any  building  or  the  moving  of any building from one  location or position to another.    2. "Apartment," or "suite." That portion of a dwelling  consisting  of  one or more living rooms, and occupied by the members of a family, which  group of rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    3. "Basement." A story partly below the curb level but having at least  one-half of its height above the curb level. A basement shall be counted  as  a  story in determining height, except as otherwise provided in this  chapter.    4. "Boarding house,"  "furnished  room  house,"  "rooming  house,"  or  "tourist  house."  A  multiple  dwelling,  in  which there are less than  thirty sleeping rooms occupied primarily by transients  who  are  lodged  with  or without meals, and in which there are provided such services as  are incidental to its use as a temporary residence. Also a dwelling  two  or more stories in height, occupied by one or two families and with five  or  more  transient  boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one  family.    5. "Cellar." An enclosed space in a dwelling having more than one-half  of its height below the curb level. However, where  a  dwelling  is  set  back from the curb level in such a manner that the enclosed space in the  dwelling  is above the curb level but at least one-half of its height is  below the land immediately adjacent to the dwelling, such space shall be  deemed a cellar. A cellar shall not be counted as a story.    5-a. "Child caring institutions."  Institutions  for  the  residential  care  of  children  operated  by  authorized  agencies as defined by the  social welfare law.    6. "Commission." The state building code commission in  the  executive  department of the state of New York.    7.  "Converted  or  conversion." A change from non-dwelling or private  dwelling use to multiple dwelling occupancy after July  first,  nineteen  hundred fifty-two.    8.  "Court." A space, other than a yard, on the same lot as a dwelling  and open to the sky. "Inner court." A court not extending to a street or  yard. "Outer court." A court extending to a street or yard.    9. "Curb level." The level of the curb at the center of the  front  of  the  building, for the purpose of measuring the height of any portion of  a building; except that where a building faces on more than one  street,  the  curb  level is the average of the levels of the curbs at the center  of each front. Where no curb elevation has  been  established  the  mean  level  of  the  land  immediately  adjacent  to  the  dwelling  shall be  considered the curb level, unless the municipal engineer shall establish  such curb level or its equivalent.    10. "Department." The department, bureau, division, agency  or  person  charged with the enforcement of this chapter.    11.  "Dining  bay,"  "dining  recess"  or "dinette." A recess used for  dining purposes off a living room, foyer or kitchen.    12. "Dormitory." Any room occupied for sleeping purposes  by  five  or  more  persons. A "cubicle" is a small, partially enclosed sleeping space  within a dormitory, with or without a window.    13. "Dwelling." A building or structure which is occupied in whole  or  in part as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more persons.    14. "Family." One or more persons with whom there may be not more than  four  boarders,  roomers  or  lodgers  all  living  together in a common  household. A boarder,  roomer  or  lodger  residing  within  the  familyhousehold  is  a  person  who  pays  a  consideration  therefor and such  residence is not an incident of employment therein.    15.  "Fire  alarm system." An approved system of sounding a fire alarm  or alarms installed in such a manner that it can  be  operated  manually  from any story.    "Fire-detecting   system."  An  approved  system  which  automatically  detects a fire or an abnormal rise in temperature and  actuates  a  fire  alarm.    16.  "Fire-escape."  A  combination of outside balconies and stairs of  incombustible materials, providing an unobstructed means of egress  from  a building.    17.   "Fireproof."  Made  of  incombustible  materials  with  standard  fire-resistive ratings not less than  those  required  for  a  fireproof  multiple dwelling.    18.  "Fireproof  multiple  dwelling." One in which the walls and other  structural members are of incombustible materials or assemblies  meeting  all  of  the  requirements  of  the  local  building  code for fireproof  construction, if any, and if there be none, then of the  state  building  construction  code  for  fireproof  construction  applicable to multiple  dwellings.    19. "Fire-retarded." Covered with metal lath  plastered  with  two  or  more  coats  of  cement or gypsum plaster or otherwise protected against  fire with materials of standard fire-resistive ratings of at  least  one  hour.  Fireproof  or fire-resistive material shall always be accepted as  meeting any requirement for fire-retarding.    20.  "Fire-resistive."  Covered  or   protected   with   incombustible  materials  of  standard  fire-resistive  ratings  of  at least one hour.  Fireproofing or fire-retarding shall always be accepted as  meeting  any  requirement for "fire-resistive" materials.    21.  "Fire-stair."  A  fireproof  stair,  enclosed in fireproof walls,  within the body of the building which it serves, to which access may  be  had only through self-closing fireproof doors.    22.  "Fire-stopping."  The  closing  of  concealed draft openings with  brick or other incombustible materials to form an effectual fire barrier  between stories, and between the ceiling of  the  upper  story  and  the  space under the roof.    23.  "Foyer." A space within an apartment or suite used as an entrance  hall directly from a public hall.    24.  "Frame  dwellings."  A  non-fireproof  dwelling  of   which   any  structural  member of its exterior walls is of wood. A structural member  shall not be deemed to include the veneer or facing of any such wall.    25. "Height." The vertical distance of a dwelling from the curb  level  to  the level of the highest point of the roof beams, except that in the  case of pitched roofs, it is the vertical distance from the  curb  level  to  the mean height level of the gable or roof above the vertical street  wall. An attic not used or arranged to be used for human occupancy shall  not be considered in measuring the height of a dwelling.    26. "Hotel." A dwelling in which there are  thirty  or  more  sleeping  rooms  in one building or structure occupied primarily by transients who  are lodged with or without meals; and there are provided  such  services  as are incidental to the use thereof as a temporary residence.    27.  "Kitchen." A space, fifty-nine square feet or more in floor area,  used for cooking or warming of food.    28. "Kitchenette." A space, less than fifty-nine square feet in  floor  area, used for cooking or warming of food.    29. "Living room." Any room in a multiple dwelling except:    a.  A  public hall, public vestibule, public room or other public part  of a dwelling;b. A hall, corridor or passageway  entirely  within  an  apartment  or  suite;    c.  A  foyer, the floor area of which does not exceed ten percentum of  the total floor area of the apartment or suite;    d. A kitchenette;    e. A dining bay, dining recess or dinette fifty-five  square  feet  or  less in area;    f. A bathroom or water-closet compartment.    30.  "Local  building  code."  The  building  code, if any, adopted or  enacted by a city, town or village and which is in force in  such  city,  town  or  village, or in such town or portion thereof outside the limits  of any village or city, respectively, or the state building construction  code where applicable with respect thereto.    31. "Lodging house." A dwelling, other than a hotel, in which  persons  are  housed  in a dormitory or dormitories, whether or not the space for  sleeping accommodations therein is divided into cubicles, for  a  single  night or for less than a week at one time.    32.  "Lot."  A  parcel  or  plot of ground which is or may be occupied  wholly or in part by  a  dwelling,  including  the  spaces  occupied  by  accessory or other structures and any open or unoccupied spaces thereon,  but not including any part of an abutting public street or thoroughfare.    a.  "Corner  lot." A lot of which at least two adjacent sides abut for  their full length upon streets or public places not less than forty feet  in width. Any other lot is an "interior lot." That portion of  a  corner  lot  in  excess  of one hundred feet from the widest street on which the  lot abuts shall be considered an interior lot.    b. "Front of a lot." That boundary line which abuts on the street, or,  if there be more than one street abutting, on the street  designated  by  the owner. "Rear of a lot" is the side opposite the front.    c.  "Depth  of  a  lot." The distance from the front of the lot to the  extreme rear line of the lot. The depth of an  irregular-shaped  lot  is  its mean depth.    d.  "Lot running through from street to street." A lot where the front  and rear lines abut for their entire lengths upon streets or open public  places. When either of such lines exceeds the other in  length  by  more  than  twenty  per  centum, that part of the lot contiguous to the excess  length of the longer line shall be deemed an interior lot.    e. "Back to back lots." Lots or portions of lots which are on opposite  sides of the same part of a rear line common to both  and  the  opposite  street  lines  on  which  the lots front are parallel with each other or  make an angle with each other of not more than forty-five degrees.    33. "Multiple dwelling." A dwelling which is  either  rented,  leased,  let  or  hired  out,  to be occupied, or is occupied as the temporary or  permanent  residence  or  home  of  three  or   more   families   living  independently of each other, including but not limited to the following:  a tenament, flat house, maisonette apartment, apartment house, apartment  hotel,  tourist  house,  bachelor  apartment,  studio  apartment, duplex  apartment, kitchenette apartment, hotel, lodging house,  rooming  house,  boarding house, boarding and nursery school, furnished room house, club,  sorority   house,   fraternity  house,  college  and  school  dormitory,  convalescent, old age or nursing homes  or  residences.  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.    34.  "Non-fireproof  dwelling."  A  dwelling  which  does not meet the  requirements for a fireproof dwelling.    35. "Occupied" or "used." Such terms shall be construed as if followed  by the words "or arranged, designed,  or  intended  to  be  occupied  or  used."36. "Owner." Owner or owners of the freehold of the premises or lesser  estate  therein, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents,  receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent, or any other person, firm or  corporation, directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling.    37.  "Premises."  Land,  improvements  and  appurtenances  or any part  thereof.    38. "Private dwelling." A dwelling occupied exclusively for  residence  purposes  by one or two families and having not more than four boarders,  roomers or lodgers residing with any one family.    39. "Public hall." A hall,  corridor  or  passageway  not  within  any  apartment  or  suite  of  private  rooms. "Public vestibule." A hall not  within any apartment or suite or private rooms  providing  access  to  a  stair  or  elevator  and not wider than seven feet nor longer than twice  the width of the stair or elevator shaft opening upon such hall.    40. "Public part" or "public room." A space available for common usage  or used exclusively for storage purposes or for mechanical equipment  of  the dwelling.    41.  "Section."  A part of a multiple dwelling other than an apartment  or suite, separated as  a  unit  from  the  rest  of  such  dwelling  by  fireproof construction.    42.  "Shaft."  A  space  extending  through  one  or more stories of a  dwelling connecting a series of openings therein or any story or stories  and the roof, and includes exterior and interior shafts whether for air,  light, elevator, dumbwaiter or any other purpose.    43. "Shall." The word "shall" is always mandatory.    44. "Single-room occupancy." The occupancy by one or two persons of  a  single  room,  or  two or more rooms which are joined together separated  from all other rooms within an apartment in a multiple dwelling so  that  the occupant or occupants thereof reside separately and independently of  the other occupant or occupants of the same apartment.    45.  "Sprinkler  system."  A system of piping connected to one or more  sprinkler heads with fusible struts which will be constructed to fuse at  a specified temperature so as to discharge an effective spray  to  cover  the  area  to  be  sprinkled. Such system may be either an automatic wet  pipe type in which all pipes and sprinkler heads are at all times filled  with water when the building is occupied, or a dry pipe system in  which  the  pipes and sprinkler heads are filled with air, either compressed or  at atmospheric pressure,  and  the  water  supply  is  controlled  by  a  dry-pipe valve.    46.  "Stair."  A flight or flights of steps including any landings and  parts of public halls through which it is necessary  to  pass  in  going  from one level to another.    47.  "Stair  hall."  A  part  of  a  public  hall  through which it is  necessary to pass in going from the end of one flight of  steps  to  the  beginning  of another but shall not include an area that is also used to  provide direct ingress to and egress from an apartment or suite.    48. "Story." A space between the level of one finished floor  and  the  level  of  the  next higher finished floor, or, if the top story, of the  space between the level of the highest finished floor and the top of the  highest roof beams, or, if the first story, of  the  space  between  the  level  of the finished floor and the finished ceiling immediately above.  For the purpose of measuring height by stories of dwellings  erected  on  or  after  July  first, nineteen hundred fifty-two, one additional story  shall be added for each twelve feet or fraction thereof that  the  first  story  exceeds  fifteen  feet  in  height,  and  for each twelve feet or  fraction thereof that any story above the  first  story  exceeds  twelve  feet in height.49.  "Street  wall."  A wall of a building, at any level, nearest to a  street line abutting the property.    50.  "Suite."  That  portion  of  a dwelling consisting of one or more  living rooms and occupied by the members of a  family,  which  group  of  rooms is separated from all other groups within a dwelling.    51.  "Window  dimensions." The measurements between the stop-beads or,  if there are no stop-beads, between the sides and the head and  sill  of  the sash opening.    52.  "Yard." An open space on the same lot with a dwelling between the  extreme rear line of the lot and the extreme rear wall of the dwelling.