Batavia, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 143 § 143-3
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, unless the context or subject matter otherwise requires, the following definitions shall apply: ROOMER Any person renting or hiring habitation space in a dwelling unit hereinbefore defined who is not within the second degree of kindred and who does not occupy such space as an incident of employment therein. ROOMING HOUSE A dwelling unit used wholly for habitation, where rooms for more than two and up to 10 people who would not be classified as a family unit, as described in the City of Batavia zoning regulations, are offered for hire, with or without meals, with or without kitchen facilities.
Section 143-3 of Batavia, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 143 establishes the working definitions used throughout the chapter's rooming-house regulations. A 'roomer' is defined as someone who pays to occupy space in a dwelling unit, provided they are not closely related (within the second degree of kinship) to the operator and are not living there as a condition of employment. A 'rooming house' is a dwelling used entirely for habitation that rents rooms to more than two and up to ten people who do not constitute a family unit under Batavia's zoning rules, and may or may not include meals or kitchen access.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Batavia should be familiar with the definitions established in § 143-3, because they determine whether a property qualifies as a rooming house and whether occupants are classified as roomers under Chapter 143. A compliant operator generally tracks the number of unrelated occupants—keeping the count between three and ten to fall within the rooming-house definition—and understands that live-in employees and close family members (within the second degree of kinship) are not counted as roomers. Knowing these distinctions helps operators apply the correct regulatory framework to their property from the outset.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you are renting a room in a Batavia dwelling, § 143-3 of Chapter 143 determines whether you are legally classified as a 'roomer' and whether the property qualifies as a 'rooming house,' which in turn affects what protections and obligations apply to your living arrangement. People who are closely related to the operator or who live on-site as a condition of their job are excluded from the roomer definition. Tenants who believe their housing situation is being misclassified can consult a local tenant-rights organization or contact the City of Batavia to better understand how these definitions apply to their circumstances.
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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