Oneida, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 77 § 77-86
Space requirements
Operative Text
A. Every dwelling unit shall contain a minimum gross floor area of 150 square feet for the first person, 150 square feet for the second person and 100 square feet for each occupant thereafter. B. In every dwelling unit and in every rooming unit, every room occupied for sleeping purposes by one occupant shall contain at least 70 square feet of floor area and every room occupied for sleeping purposes by more than one occupant shall contain at least 50 square feet of floor area for each occupant 12 years of age and over and at least 35 square feet of floor area for each occupant under 12 years of age. C. Floor area shall be calculated on the basis of habitable room area. However, closet area and hall area within the dwelling unit, where provided, may count for not more than 10% of the required habitable floor area. At least 1/2 of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least seven feet; and the floor area of any part of any room where the ceiling height is less than 4 1/2 feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room to determine maximum permissible occupancy. D. In buildings occupied as clubs, dormitories, sorority or fraternity houses and providing sleeping accommodations for more than five persons, the maximum number of occupants so accommodated in any habitable room shall be limited to the number determined on the basis of the floor area, in square feet, of any 50 square feet per occupant. E. In lodging units and rooming units the maximum number of occupants shall be limited to the number determined on the same basis as for dwelling units.
Section 77-86 of Oneida's Code of Ordinances establishes minimum space requirements for residential occupancy. A dwelling unit must provide at least 150 square feet of gross floor area for the first two occupants and 100 square feet for each additional person, while sleeping rooms must meet specific per-person minimums that vary by age and number of occupants. Floor area calculations are governed by rules about ceiling height, closet space, and habitable room area, and similar standards apply to rooming units, lodging units, clubs, dormitories, and fraternity or sorority houses.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Oneida should ensure that every unit they rent complies with the occupancy and space standards set out in § 77-86. Compliant operators typically calculate gross floor area using only habitable room space, count closet and hall area only up to the 10% allowance, and verify that sleeping rooms meet the per-occupant minimums before approving any tenancy. Properties such as dormitories, clubs, and rooming houses are subject to their own occupancy limits under the same section and should be evaluated accordingly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 77-86 of Oneida's Code of Ordinances, tenants have a right to occupy a unit that meets minimum space standards — including adequate floor area per person and properly sized sleeping rooms. If a unit appears to be overcrowded or fails to meet these requirements, tenants may be able to raise a code violation with the local code enforcement office or housing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Oneida's housing code can help residents understand what options are generally available when space standards are not met.
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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