[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rockville Centre 2-22-1971 by L.L. No. 1-1971 as Ch. 81 of the 1971 Code. Amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building Code — See Ch. 112.
Dangerous and unsafe buildings — See Ch. 122.
Escalators — See Ch. 169.
Fire escapes — See Ch. 181.
Fire prevention and control — See Ch. 185.
Licenses — See Ch. 222.
Smoke emissions — See Ch. 276.
Vehicles and traffic — See Ch. 309.
Zoning — See Ch. 340.
[Amended 6-24-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2013]
No lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse which furnishes lodging or rooming accommodations for hire within the same shall exist or be maintained within the Village without a license, which shall be issued by the Board of Trustees as hereinafter provided. Notwithstanding the foregoing, where a lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse lawfully existed pursuant to a valid license issued by the Village of Rockville Centre prior to June 1, 2013, any such license may be renewed subject to the provisions of this chapter, provided that no such lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse may be enlarged or expanded in any manner greater than it existed on June 1, 2013. It is the intention of this section that no new lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse be established on or after June 1, 2013, but that those lodging houses, rooming houses and boardinghouses lawfully existing and licensed on June 1, 2013, may be permitted to continue, as nonconforming licensed uses, so long as such uses continue to conform to Code requirements and maintain all required licenses.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 222, Licenses.
[Amended 6-24-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2013]
No licenses shall be renewed hereunder, and any renewed licenses shall be subject to revocation, unless the applicant or holder of such license fully complies with the following requirements:
A. 
The applicant shall be the individual owner of such premises and shall be of good moral character.
B. 
The maximum number of lodgers, roomers or boarders shall be four.
C. 
There shall be no more than one person occupying a room as a lodger, roomer or boarder, and such room shall have a minimum of 100 square feet of floor space. More than one person may occupy a single room if related by blood or marriage and provided the room shall be of such size to provide a minimum of 75 square feet of floor area for each person.
D. 
At the time of the issuance of such license and at all times when the licensed premises are used as a lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse, the owner thereof shall maintain his residence in and shall actually reside in the licensed premises.
E. 
Lodging houses, rooming houses and boardinghouses legally operating and duly licensed prior to June 1, 2013, shall constitute nonconforming uses pursuant to the zoning regulations of the Village,[1] and the owners thereof shall be entitled to renewal of lawfully existing licenses for the same pursuant to this chapter and upon compliance with all of the provisions of this chapter.
[1]
Editor's Note: See Ch. 340, Zoning.
F. 
All lodging houses, rooming houses and boardinghouses shall be heated by a central heating plant or electric panel heating.
G. 
No cooking or storage of foodstuffs shall be permitted in any room other than a kitchen.
H. 
In all parts of such building artificial lighting shall be provided by means of electric current; and each electric circuit shall be provided with a circuit breaker or fuse which shall meet the requirements of the New York Board of Fire Underwriters. Each new application shall be accompanied by a New York Board of Fire Underwriters' certificate. This certificate shall not be more than one year old. Thereafter on renewal applications a current New York Board of Fire Underwriters' certificate shall be required at least once each five years. Any fees involved in obtaining this current New York Board of Fire Underwriters' certificate shall be borne by the applicant.
I. 
No sinks shall be installed or used in any sleeping room, but basins shall be permitted for personal washing and shaving. Such basins, however, shall not be used for washing of clothes and dishes or any unsanitary purposes.
J. 
Bathroom facilities shall be maintained for the owner-occupant separate and apart from bathroom facilities for the lodgers, roomers and boarders.
K. 
All sleeping rooms shall be numbered with raised figures not less than three inches in height placed on the outside of the door to each room, and no two rooms shall bear the same number.
L. 
Each and every floor on which rooms are occupied by roomers shall be equipped with an approved fire extinguisher in good working condition readily accessible for use at all times.
M. 
A water meter must be installed in the premises and properly connected with the water service line. Said meter must be obtained from the Water Department of the Village and a record of such installation must be exhibited by the applicant before a license shall be issued hereunder.
N. 
No room shall be occupied by roomers in the third floor or attic of any dwelling unless the building complies fully with the New York State Multiple Residence Law.
O. 
Off-street parking must be provided on or off premises for all occupants who own automobiles.
P. 
All licensed lodging houses, rooming houses and boardinghouses shall be subject to inspections at all reasonable hours by properly authorized representatives of the Village. Failure to comply with this provision shall constitute a ground for immediate revocation of the license.
Any person maintaining such a lodging house, rooming house or boardinghouse pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall keep upon such premises a register showing the names and occupations of all persons residing or living in or upon said premises and shall exhibit the same to any member of the Police Department or the Chief Engineer of the Village or his deputy, or the Chief Executive of the Fire Department or his deputized agent, at any reasonable time upon demand, and upon the failure to so exhibit the same, such license shall be revoked.
[Amended 6-24-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2013]
Any person or persons convicted of violating any provisions of this chapter shall be guilty of a violation and shall be subject to fine and/or imprisonment as may be provided by law for violations of the Village Code.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: See § 1-2 of this Code.
[Amended 10-18-1971; 12-4-1972]
The fee for any license required by the provisions of this chapter shall be at the levels fixed from time to time by resolution of the Board of Trustees of the Village of Rockville Centre.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Former § 225-6, Effect on other ordinances, which immediately followed this section, was repealed 6-24-2013 by L.L. No. 3-2013.