Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-2

As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL A. The Code Enforcement Official shall be the City's Code Enforcement Supervisor as described at Article II of Chapter 120 of the Code of the City of Watertown, as the same may, from time to time, be amended. Such official shall have additional duties of registration and inspection, and issuance of certificates of inspection and maintenance compliance pursuant to this article, and is hereby authorized and directed to enforce the provisions of this article. B. The Code Enforcement Official shall have the authority to render interpretations of this code and to adopt policies and procedures in order to clarify the application of its provisions. Such interpretations, policies, and procedures shall be in compliance with the intent and purpose of this article, but shall not have the effect of waiving requirements specifically provided for in this article. DEPARTMENT Bureau of Code Enforcement. DWELLING UNIT A structure or building, or any part thereof, equipped with bathing room(s), and areas or rooms for cooking, dining, living and sleeping, occupied or to be occupied by one or more persons as a home or residence. OWNER The person, persons, or entity that has fee simple title or comparable rights to a dwelling unit or of a property including one or more dwelling units. RENT A return, in money, property or other valuable consideration (including payment in kind or services or other thing of value), for 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 UNIT A dwelling unit established, occupied, used or maintained for rental occupancy in a one-, two-, or multifamily home, equipped with bathing room(s), and areas or rooms for cooking, dining, living and sleeping, occupied or to be occupied by one or more persons as a home or residence. RENTAL OCCUPANCY The occupancy or use of a dwelling unit by one or more persons other than the owner as a home or residence under an arrangement whereby the occupant or occupants thereof pay rent for such occupancy and use. There is a rebuttable presumption that any occupancy or use of a dwelling unit is to be deemed a rental occupancy if the owner of the structure or building containing the dwelling unit does not reside in the same structure or building. RENTAL PROPERTY A property upon which is located a building or buildings or structure or structures which include one or more rental dwelling units.