Middletown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 296 § 296-13
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: BOARDINGHOUSE, ROOMING HOUSE AND LODGING HOUSE A. Any dwelling in which more than three persons, either individually or as families, are housed or lodged for hire, and used for single room occupancy. B. Any dwelling that provides sleeping accommodations in three or more individual rooms on either a transient or permanent basis, without cooking and toilet facilities, as defined below, for each individual occupant or family, however, excepting those locations as defined in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as an adult residential care facility. COOKING FACILITIES A kitchen sink, stove/oven combination and refrigerator. MULTIPLE DWELLING A dwelling or group of dwellings on one plot containing separate living units for three or more families but which may have joint services or facilities, or both. Does not include condominiums. TOILET FACILITIES A lavatory, water closet and tub and/or shower. TWO-FAMILY DWELLING A detached building on one plot designed for or occupied exclusively by two families living independently of each other. Does not include condominiums.
Section 296-13 of Middletown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 296 establishes the definitions that govern how key housing terms are interpreted throughout the article. It draws distinctions between boardinghouses/rooming houses/lodging houses, multiple dwellings, and two-family dwellings, and specifies what qualifies as cooking facilities and toilet facilities. Condominiums are explicitly excluded from the definitions of multiple dwellings and two-family dwellings, and adult residential care facilities as defined under New York State's Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code are carved out from the rooming house definition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Middletown should be familiar with the definitions set out in § 296-13, as the category into which a property falls—boardinghouse, multiple dwelling, or two-family dwelling—determines which regulatory requirements apply. A compliant operator generally ensures that any property housing more than three persons for hire, or providing three or more individual sleeping rooms, is recognized and managed as a boardinghouse or rooming house under this section. Operators of condominium properties should note that those structures are expressly excluded from the multiple dwelling and two-family dwelling definitions in § 296-13.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in Middletown rental housing benefit from understanding the definitions in § 296-13, because the classification of their building—whether it is a rooming house, multiple dwelling, or two-family dwelling—affects what protections and standards apply to their living situation. For example, the definitions of cooking facilities and toilet facilities in § 296-13 set a baseline for what those terms mean when referenced elsewhere in the article. Tenants who believe their housing is misclassified or that required facilities are absent may wish to contact the City of Middletown's code enforcement office or consult a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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