Pelham, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 54 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 54-142
Communal cooking and dining
Operative Text
A. Communal cooking and dining facilities in a rooming house shall be permitted, provided that they comply with all the applicable state and local laws and are approved by the Health Officer. B. Every communal kitchen and dining room located in a rooming house shall have adequate floor space and facilities and shall be so located as to be accessible to the occupant of each rooming unit sharing the use of such facilities without going through the dwelling unit or rooming unit of another occupant. C. Communal kitchens and dining rooms shall comply with the following requirements: (1) Where cooking is permitted, communal kitchens shall have a minimum gross floor area of sixty (60) square feet and a minimum width of five (5) feet. (2) Communal kitchens used for combined cooking and eating purposes shall have a minimum gross floor area of one hundred (100) square feet and a minimum width of seven (7) feet. Dining space and eating facilities shall comply with the requirements of this code for communal dining rooms. D. Required facilities for communal kitchens shall be as follows: (1) At least one (1) sink. (2) At least one (1) gas or electric stove containing at least two (2) top burners and an oven. (3) At least one (1) electric, gas or other mechanical or suitably constructed ice refrigerator with adequate food storage capacity. (4) At least twelve (12) lineal feet of shelf storage space. E. Communal dining rooms shall have a minimum gross floor area of seventy (70) square feet. F. Required facilities for communal dining rooms shall be as follows: at least one (1) dining chair and two (2) lineal feet of dining space for each occupant permitted in said dining room at any particular time.
Section 54-142 of Pelham's Code of Ordinances establishes the physical and equipment standards for communal cooking and dining spaces in rooming houses. Shared kitchens and dining rooms must meet minimum size requirements, contain specified appliances and storage, and be accessible to all occupants without passing through another resident's private unit. All such facilities must also receive approval from the Health Officer and comply with applicable state and local laws.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 54-142, operators of rooming houses who provide communal cooking or dining areas must ensure those spaces meet the code's minimum square footage, width, appliance, and storage requirements before occupants use them. Compliant operators also confirm that shared facilities are accessible from every rooming unit via common areas rather than through another occupant's private space, and that Health Officer approval is obtained. Equipment checklists typically include at least one sink, a stove with two burners and an oven, a refrigerator, and twelve linear feet of shelf storage.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 54-142 gives rooming house occupants the right to communal kitchen and dining facilities that meet specific size, equipment, and accessibility standards. If shared cooking or dining spaces appear to fall short of these requirements—such as lacking required appliances, being too small, or being accessible only through another resident's unit—tenants may raise these conditions as potential code violations. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization or contacting the Pelham Health Officer's office are general paths for understanding how to document and report such concerns.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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