Port Jervis, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 370 § 370-1
Definitions
Operative Text
The following terms in this chapter are defined as follows: BUILDING OFFICIAL The Building Official of the City of Port Jervis. DWELLING UNIT One or more rooms with provisions for living, cooking, sanitary, and sleeping facilities arranged for the use of one family and not having more than one kitchen or kitchenette. The term "dwelling unit" shall not be deemed to include a hotel, motel, automobile court, tourist home, furnished rooming house, dormitory, boarding home, convalescent home, rest home, nursing home, or other accomodations used for transient occupancy. FAMILY A. Occupancy. (1) One, two, or three persons occupying a dwelling unit; or (2) Four or more persons occupying a dwelling unit and living together as a traditional family or the functional equivalent of a traditional family. B. It shall be presumptive evidence that four or more persons living in a single dwelling unit who are not related by blood or marriage or legal adoption do not constitute the functional equivalent of a traditional family, except as defined below. C. In determining whether individuals are living together as the functional equivalent of a traditional family, the following criteria must be present: (1) The group is one which in theory, size, appearance, structure and function resembles a traditional family unit. (2) The occupants must share the entire dwelling unit and live and cook together as a single housekeeping unit. A unit in which the various occupants act as separate roomers may not be deemed to be occupied by the functional equivalent of a traditional family. (3) The group shares expenses for food, rent or ownership costs, utilities or other household expenses. (4) The group is permanent and stable. Evidence of such permanency and stability may include: (a) The presence of minor dependent children regularly residing in the household who are enrolled in local schools; (b) Members of the household have the same address for purposes of voter registration, driver’s license, motor vehicle registration and filing of taxes; (c) Members of the household are employed in the area; (d) The household has been living together as a unit for a year or more whether in the current dwelling unit or other dwelling units; (e) Common ownership of furniture and appliances among the members of the household; and (f) The group is not transient or temporary in nature. (5) Any other factor reasonably related to whether or not the group is the functional equivalent of a family. MULTIPLE DWELLING A detached building, or portion thereof, containing three or more dwelling units. OWNER The owner or owners of a freehold of the premises or lessor estate therein, a mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee or rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling.
Section 370-1 of Port Jervis, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 370 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the city's housing chapter, including what counts as a "dwelling unit," who qualifies as a "family," and what constitutes a "multiple dwelling." Notably, the definition of "family" extends beyond blood or legal relationships to include groups of four or more people who function as a stable, traditional-family equivalent — provided specific criteria around shared living, shared expenses, and permanency are met. Transient accommodations such as hotels, motels, and nursing homes fall outside the definition of a dwelling unit under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under ch. 370 should be familiar with the definitions in § 370-1, since terms like "dwelling unit," "family," and "multiple dwelling" determine which regulatory requirements apply to a given property. A building with three or more dwelling units qualifies as a "multiple dwelling" under this section, which may trigger additional obligations elsewhere in the chapter. Operators who rent to groups of unrelated individuals should understand that the code uses specific criteria — shared expenses, permanency, and a unified housekeeping arrangement — to assess whether such a group qualifies as a "family" for occupancy purposes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 370-1 of Port Jervis's housing code, tenants who are not related by blood, marriage, or adoption may still qualify as a "family" if they meet the criteria for functioning as the equivalent of a traditional family — factors such as shared expenses, stable long-term cohabitation, and a unified household structure are all considered. If a landlord or city official disputes whether a household qualifies as a "family" under this definition, tenants may find it useful to document evidence of permanency and shared living arrangements as outlined in the section. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Port Jervis municipal code can help residents understand how these definitions may apply to their housing situation.
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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