Riverhead, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 263 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 263-3

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: ABANDONED HOUSEHOLD CONTENTS Furniture, furnishings, housewares, appliances and other personal property customarily found in and used in residential dwellings, which are deposited at or along said dwelling's street frontage, in part or in whole, pursuant to a duly executed warrant of eviction by legally authorized law enforcement officers and/or personnel. APARTMENT HOUSE A dwelling for three or more families living independently of each other. APARTMENTS, GARDEN A group of buildings not more than 2 1/2 stories in height, each building containing not more than eight dwelling units. If buildings are attached, they shall not contain in the aggregate more than 16 dwelling units. No portion of any such building below the first story or above the second story shall be used for dwelling purposes. AUTHORIZED AGENT Any person, organization, partnership, association, corporation or other legally recognized entity given express written authorization by an owner to act on his behalf regarding this chapter and all state and local rules, regulations and ordinances referenced herein. CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL The official who is charged with the administration and enforcement of this chapter, or any duly authorized representative of such person, including but not limited to the Building Inspector, Chief Building Inspector, Principal Building Inspector, Senior Building Inspector, Building Permits Coordinator, Zoning Inspector, Electrical Inspector, Plumbing Inspector, Fire Marshal, Fire Marshal I, Fire Marshal II, Chief Fire Marshal, Town Investigator, Senior Town Investigator, Ordinance Enforcement Officer or Ordinance Inspector of the Town of Riverhead, and such person(s) shall be certified as a New York State Code Enforcement Official. CONDOMINIUM A dwelling unit in a housing complex of one-, two- or multiple-family dwelling units with an arrangement whereby the occupants or an occupant of each unit has full title to that particular unit and a joint ownership with all other title holders in the housing complex of certain common property. DWELLING A building designed exclusively for residential purposes and arranged or intended to be occupied by one individual or one family only. DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY A building, other than a garden apartment or apartment house, designed for and occupied as a residence by three or more families living independently of each other. DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY A detached building designed for and occupied exclusively as a home or residence by not more than one family. DWELLING, TOWNHOUSE A one-family dwelling in a row of at least three such units in which each unit has its own front and rear access to the outside, no unit is located over another unit and each unit is separated from any other unit by one or more common fire-resistant walls. DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY A building arranged, designed for or occupied exclusively as a home or residence for not more than two families living independently of each other. DWELLING UNIT A single unit within a building or structure providing complete independent living facilities for one or more persons, including permanent provisions for living, sleeping, eating, cooking and sanitation. FAMILY A. One or more persons, whether or not related to each other by blood, marriage or adoption, all occupying a single, whole, legal single or one-family dwelling unit as a traditional family or the functional equivalent of a traditional family, shall be considered a family, and further provided that persons occupying group quarters, such as a dormitory, fraternity or sorority house or a seminary, shall not be considered a family, having access to and utilizing the whole of such dwelling unit, including but not limited to all rooms and housekeeping facilities, in common. B. 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 structure and function resembles a traditional family unit; and (2) The occupants must share the entire single or one-family 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; and (3) The adult occupants share expenses for food, rent, ownership costs, utilities and other household expenses; and (4) The occupancy is permanent and stable. Evidence of such permanence and stability includes, but is not limited to: (a) The presence of minor 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 licenses, motor vehicle registration, filing of taxes and delivery of mail; (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 in other dwelling units; (e) Common ownership of furniture and appliances among the members of the household; and (f) Any other factor reasonably related to whether or not the occupants are the functional equivalent of a family. IMMEDIATE FAMILY The immediate family of the owner of a dwelling unit consists of the owner's spouse, children, parents, grandparents or grandchildren. MANAGING AGENT Any individual, business, partnership, firm, corporation, enterprise, trust, company, industry, association, public utility or other legal entity responsible for the maintenance or operation of any rental property as defined within this chapter. MOBILE HOME A detached single-family dwelling unit with all of the following characteristics: A. Designed for long-term occupancy and containing sleeping accommodations, a flush toilet, a tub or shower, bath and kitchen facilities, with plumbing and electrical connections provided for attachment to outside systems. B. Designed to be transported after fabrication on its own wheels or on flatbed or other trailers or detachable wheels. C. Arriving at the site where it is to be occupied as a dwelling complete, including major appliances and furniture, and ready for occupancy, except for minor and incidental unpacking and assembly operations, location on foundation supports, connections to utilities and the like. MOBILE HOME OR TRAVEL TRAILER LOT A designated site within a mobile home or travel trailer park for the exclusive use of a single mobile home or travel trailer. MOBILE HOME OR TRAVEL TRAILER PARK A parcel of land which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more mobile homes or travel trailers. NEW PERMIT A permit which is to be issued to the owner of an intended rental premises where such premises has not been the subject of a rental occupancy permit continuously prior to the date of application for the permit. OCCUPANT A natural person who leases, uses or occupies a dwelling unit. OWNER Any person or entity in whose name the real property upon which the dwelling unit is situated is recorded in the office of the Suffolk County Clerk. The person or entity in whose name the real property is recorded in the office of the Suffolk County Clerk shall be presumed to be the owner thereof. RENT A return, in money, property or other valuable consideration (including payment in kind or for services or other thing of value), for the use and occupancy or the right to the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit, whether or not a legal relationship of landlord and tenant exists between the owner and the occupant or occupants thereof. RENTAL DWELLING A dwelling unit established, occupied, used or maintained for rental occupancy. RENTAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a dwelling unit by one or more persons as a home or residence under an arrangement whereby the occupant or occupants thereof pay rent for such occupancy and use. RENTAL OCCUPANCY PERMIT A permit which is issued to the owner of rental dwelling unit(s) by the Code Enforcement Official (CEO) whereby such owner has submitted a completed rental occupancy application or rental renewal application; secured a valid rental occupancy registration and successfully passed an safety inspection in accordance with this chapter. RENTAL OCCUPANCY REGISTRATION A registration which is valid for 90 days and issued upon filing of an "approved" rental permit application or rental renewal application submitted to the Town of Riverhead for which a rental occupancy permit is sought. For the purpose of this definition, the term "approved" shall mean approved by the Code Enforcement Official. TRANSIENT A rental period of 29 days or less.