Beacon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 173 § 173-1
Definitions
Operative Text
A. As used in this chapter, these terms shall have the following meanings: ACTION or PROCEEDING Any action or proceeding which may be instituted in the City Court of the City of Beacon, or any other court of competent jurisdiction, to enforce this chapter. BUILDING Any improved real property, residential, commercial (nonresidential) or mixed use (commercial-residential), located within the City of Beacon. DISABLED PERSON A person who has any condition which substantially limits one or more of such person's major life activities, and which are expected to be either permanent or to last for more than six months; or a person who is regarded to have such an impairment. HOUSING ACCOMMODATION Any residential premises offered for rent within the City of Beacon. A housing accommodation shall include a residential unit in a mixed use (commercial-residential) building. A housing accommodation shall not include any property to be solely occupied for a commercial use. LANDLORD Any owner, lessor, sublessor, assignor, or other person receiving or entitled to receive rent for the occupancy of any housing accommodation or an agent of any of the foregoing. NON-OWNER-OCCUPIED PROPERTY A property that does not qualify as owner-occupied. OWNER Any individual or individuals, partnership or corporation or other organization, whether forprofit or otherwise, in whose name title to a building stands, including a mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation in control of the property. OWNER-OCCUPIED PROPERTY A property used by the property owner(s) as their primary residence. If the property is owned by a business entity, all owners of the business entity must use the property as their primary residence. When a property is titled in the name of a trustee, the property shall be considered an occupied primary residence if the grantor or grantee is the occupant of the property. PRIMARY RESIDENCE The primary location that a person inhabits and resides for at least 180 days in the calendar year. PROCESS Any notice, summons or other process issued under any provision of the Code of the City of Beacon or any law or regulation of the State of New York. RENT Any consideration, including any bonus, benefit or gratuity demanded or received for or in connection with the possession, use or occupancy of housing accommodations. RENTAL PROPERTY Any property which is rented, intended for rental, leased, let or hired out to be occupied for residential, commercial (nonresidential) or mixed use (commercial-residential). TENANT A tenant, subtenant, lessee, sublessee, assignee, an occupant of a rooming house or hotel as defined in section 711 of the Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law or any other person entitled to the possession, use or occupancy of any housing accommodation.
Section 173-1 of Beacon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 173 establishes the foundational vocabulary for the city's rental property regulations. It defines key terms such as 'landlord,' 'tenant,' 'housing accommodation,' 'owner-occupied property,' and 'primary residence,' which are used throughout the rest of the chapter. For example, a 'primary residence' requires at least 180 days of habitation per calendar year, and an 'owner-occupied property' owned by a business entity requires all owners of that entity to use the property as their primary residence. These definitions set the boundaries for who and what falls under the chapter's rules.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Beacon should familiarize themselves with the definitions in ch. 173 § 173-1, as these terms govern how the rest of the chapter applies to their properties. The definition of 'owner-occupied property,' for instance, has specific requirements—including that all owners of a business entity must use the property as their primary residence—which may affect whether certain exemptions or obligations apply to a given rental. Compliant operators generally keep clear records of occupancy status, ownership structure, and the nature of their rental units to ensure they are correctly classified under these definitions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 173-1 of Beacon's ch. 173 defines who qualifies as a 'tenant' broadly, encompassing subtenants, lessees, sublessee, assignees, and occupants of rooming houses or hotels as described under New York's Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law. Understanding these definitions can help renters determine whether they fall within the chapter's protections and obligations. Tenants who have questions about how these definitions apply to their living situation may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full text of ch. 173 with a housing attorney.
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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