This chapter shall be known as "The Housing Code of the City of Oneida, New York," which provides housing standards applicable to residential premises within the boundaries of said City, including inside and outside districts.
The purpose of this chapter is to provide basic and uniform standards, in terms of performance objectives implemented by specific requirements governing the condition, occupancy and maintenance of residential premises and establishing reasonable safeguards for the safety, health and welfare of the occupants and users thereof.
This chapter shall apply to premises as follows:
A. 
Lots, plots or parcels of land on which residential buildings, buildings of mixed occupancy or accessory structures may be or are located.
B. 
Residential buildings, including one- and two-family dwellings, rooming and lodging houses and multiple dwellings, except as specifically excluded in § 77-4.
C. 
Residential occupancies in buildings of mixed occupancy.
D. 
Structures accessory to residential occupancies.
This chapter shall not apply to tourist camps, farm labor camps, travel trailers and trailer parks.
The words and terms used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
A structure, the use of which is incidental to that of the residential building and which is located on the same premises.
ACCESSORY USE
A use, occupancy or tenancy customarily incidental to the principal use or occupancy of a residential building. Such accessory uses may include, among others, the following: offices for the building management, dining rooms, banquet rooms, public kitchens, ballrooms, recreation and play rooms, laundries for the use of tenants and occupants and in connection with the management and operation of a residential building, maintenance and work shops, storage rooms for linen, bedding, furniture, supplies and tenants, equipment and effects, rooms or space for the incidental sale or display of merchandise to occupants and tenants, such as newspaper, candy and cigar stands, garages within a residential building or on the premises thereof used primarily for the storage of passenger type motor vehicles. Such term shall have a uniform meaning and shall apply in the same manner and under the same conditions or restrictions to all residential buildings.
AGENCY
The department designated by the Common Council to carry out the duties of enforcing and administering this chapter.
APPROVED
Approved by the administrative officer under the regulations of this chapter or approved by an authority designated by law or this chapter.
BASEMENT
That space of a building that is partly below grade which has more than half its height, measured from floor to ceiling, above the average established curb level or average finished grade of the ground adjoining the building.
BATHROOM
Enclosed space containing one or more bathtubs or showers or both and which may also contain water closets, lavatories or fixtures serving similar purposes.
BUILDING
A structure wholly or partially enclosed within exterior walls or within exterior or party walls and a roof, affording shelter to persons, animals or property.
CELLAR
That space of a building that is partly or entirely below grade, which has more than half of its height, measured from floor to ceiling, below the average established curb level or average finished grade of the ground adjoining the building.
DORMITORY
Any room occupied for sleeping purposes by five or more persons. A cubicle is a small, partially enclosed, sleeping space within a dormitory, with or without a window.
DORMITORY BUILDING
This term shall be synonymous with the terms "college dormitory," "school dormitory" and "faculty residence." A dormitory building is a multiple dwelling owned and/or operated by an educational institution for the primary purpose of providing sleeping rooms for students enrolled in the educational institution and/or members of the educational institution's faculty. A dormitory building may or may not have additional facilities for dining and/or recreation. This definition has been included to provide the distinction between a structure which is a dormitory building and a dormitory which, as defined in this chapter, is a room.
DWELLING
A building containing not more than two dwelling units occupied exclusively for residential uses.
DWELLING UNIT
One or more rooms with provisions for living, cooking, sanitary and sleeping facilities arranged for the use of one family.
DWELLING, TWO-FAMILY
A building containing not more than two dwelling units occupied exclusively for residential purposes.
DWELLING, ONE-FAMILY
A building containing not more than one dwelling unit occupied exclusively for residential purposes.
EXIT
A way of departure from the interior of a building or structure, to the exterior at street or grade, including doorways, passageways, hallways, corridors, stairways, ramps, fire escapes and all other elements necessary for egress or escape.
EXTERMINATION
Control and elimination of insects, rodents and vermin by eliminating their harborage places; by removing or making inaccessible materials that may serve as their food; by poisoning, spraying, fumigating, trapping; or by any other means of pest elimination.
FAMILY
A household constituting a single housekeeping unit occupied by one or more persons.
FARM LABOR CAMP
A property consisting of a tract of land and tents, vehicles, buildings or other structure pertaining thereto, any part of which may be occupied by persons employed as laborers in farm activities who are provided with sleeping facilities in whole or in part by the owner, lessee or operator thereof, with or without stipulated agreements as to the duration of their stay, whether or not they are supplied with meals, who are supplied with such services or facilities as are necessary for their use of such property.
FINISHED GRADE
The natural surface of the ground or surface of ground after completion of any change in contour, abutting building or premises.
FLOOR AREA
The horizontal areas of a building which are enclosed by the exterior walls of the building.
GARBAGE
The animal, vegetable and mineral waste resulting from handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
GENERALLY ACCEPTED STANDARD
A specification, code rule, guide or procedure in the field of construction or related thereto, recognized and accepted as authoritative.
HABITABLE SPACE
Space occupied by one or more persons for living, sleeping, eating or cooking. Kitchenettes shall not be deemed to be habitable space.
HOTEL
A dwelling in which there are 30 or more sleeping rooms in one building or structure occupied primarily by transients who are lodged with or without meals; and there are provided such services as are incidental to the use thereof as a temporary residence.
INFESTATION
The presence, within or contiguous to a dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit, lodging house, lodging unit or premises, of wild rodents, insects, vermin or other pests.
KITCHEN
Space, 60 square feet or more in floor area with a minimum width of five feet, used for cooking or preparation of food.
KITCHENETTE
Space, less than 60 square feet in floor area, used for cooking or preparation of food.
LODGING HOUSE
A dwelling, other than a hotel, in which persons are housed in a dormitory or dormitories, whether or not the space for sleeping accommodations therein is divided into cubicles.
LODGING UNIT
A room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit, used or intended to be used for lodging.
MIXED OCCUPANCY
Occupancy of a building in part for residential use and in part for some other use not accessory thereto.
MOBILE HOME
A movable living unit equipped with a chassis and provided with the following mechanical systems and equipment: plumbing, heating, electrical, cooking and refrigeration.
MOBILE HOME COURT
A parcel of land which has been planned and improved for the placement of two or more mobile homes.
MOTEL
A multiple dwelling not over two stories in height, intended primarily for motorists, in which the exit from each dwelling unit or sleeping room is directly to the exterior, The definition includes, but is not limited to, the terms "motor court," "motor hotel," "tourist court."
MULTIPLE DWELLING
A. 
A building containing three or more dwelling units.
B. 
A building containing living, sanitary and sleeping facilities occupied by one or two families and more than four lodgers residing with either one of such families.
C. 
A building with one or more sleeping rooms, other than a one- or two-family dwelling, used or occupied by permanent or transient paying guests or tenants.
D. 
A building with sleeping accommodations for more than five persons used or occupied as a club, dormitory, fraternity or sorority house or for similar uses.
E. 
A building used or occupied as a convalescent, old-age or nursing home, but not including private or public hospitals or public institutions.
MUNICIPALITY
A city, town or village.
NONHABITABLE SPACE
Space used as kitchenettes, pantries, bath, toilet, laundry, rest, dressing, locker, storage, utility, heater and boiler rooms, closets and other spaces for service and maintenance of the building and those spaces used for access and vertical travel between stories. See definitions of "habitable space, public space and exit.
NURSING HOME
A home for the care of the sick or infirm for compensation, where three or more inmates thereof are or may be accommodated, including nursing homes, homes for the care of the sick, convalescent or infirm patients or inmates.
OCCUPANT
Any person, including an owner or operator, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in or having actual possession of a dwelling unit or room in a rooming house.
OPENINGS FOR EMERGENCY USE
This term shall be as defined in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code applicable to one- and two-family dwellings.
OWNER
Any person who, alone, jointly or severally with others, holds legal or equitable title to any dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit.
PLUMBING SYSTEM
The water supply system, the drainage system, the vent system, fixtures and traps, including their various connections, devices and appurtenances within the property lines of the premises.
POTABLE WATER
Water which is approved for drinking, culinary and domestic purposes.
PREMISES
A lot, plot or parcel of land including the building or structures thereon.
PRIVY
Any place for the voiding of excreta that is not connected by plumbing to an approved sewage disposal system.
PUBLIC SPACE
Space within a residential building for public use, such as lobbies, lounges, reception, ball, meeting, lecture and recreation rooms, banquet and dining rooms and their kitchens and swimming pools.
ROOMING HOUSE
A multiple dwelling, in which there are less than 30 sleeping rooms occupied primarily by transients who are lodged with or without meals and in which there are provided such services as are incidental to its use as a temporary residence. Also a dwelling two or more stories in height, occupied by one or two families and with five or more transient boarders, roomers or lodgers residing with any one family. Where rooming house is used in this chapter, it shall mean boardinghouse, furnished room house or tourist house.
ROOMING UNIT
Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living or sleeping but not for cooking or eating purposes.
RUBBISH
All combustible and noncombustible waste, except garbage.
SEWAGE
A liquid waste containing animal or vegetable matter in suspension or solution and which may include industrial wastes and liquids containing chemicals.
STRUCTURE
An assembly of materials, forming a construction framed of component structural parts for occupancy or use, including buildings.
TOILET ROOM
An enclosed space, containing one or more water closets and one or more lavatories, which may also contain urinals and other plumbing fixtures. (See definition of "bathroom.")
VENTILATION
Supply and removal of air to and from a space by natural or mechanical means.
A. 
VENTILATION, MECHANICALVentilation by power-driven devices, other than wind-driven.
B. 
VENTILATION, NATURALVentilation by openings to outer air through windows, skylights, doors, louvers or stacks, with or without wind-driven devices.
WATER CLOSET
A toilet, with a bowl and trap, which is connected to the City water and sewer system or to other approved water supply and sewer system.
A. 
Failure to comply with a violation order, within the time limit stated therein, shall constitute a misdemeanor. Any person who shall knowingly and willfully violate or assist in the violation of this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. The term "person," as used in this section, shall include the owner, occupant, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation directly or indirectly in control of a building or part thereof.
B. 
No penalty shall be imposed upon a person who by operation of law acquires premises containing violations for which a violation order has been issued, for a period of six months after the date of such acquisition of the premises. Nevertheless, the penalties provided shall attach and apply, either upon the expiration date of such six-month period or upon transfer of title to the premises before the expiration of such period, whichever first occurs.
Installations, alterations and repairs to residential premises and materials, assemblies and equipment utilized in connection therewith, shall be reasonably safe to persons and property and in conformity with applicable laws of the state and City and orders, rules and regulations issued by authority thereof. Conformity of such work, materials, assemblies or equipment with the applicable requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code shall be prima facie evidence that the same is reasonably safe to person and property.
A. 
Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with all provisions of this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility.
B. 
Owners of premises shall also be responsible for proper maintenance, condition and function of service facilities. Unless otherwise agreed in writing with tenant, the owner shall be responsible for furnishing adequate heat and hot water supply, except in units with individual heating system or domestic hot water supply.
C. 
In the event that cooking and/or refrigeration equipment is provided by the owner, the owner shall maintain the same in proper operating condition.
Rooming and lodging house operators shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter in regard to the following:
A. 
Limiting occupancy to the maximum permitted by this chapter.
B. 
Maintenance of safe and sanitary conditions in all parts of rooming and lodging house premises.
C. 
Maintenance and operation of all required service facilities.
D. 
Maintenance of cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances within his control and all plumbing and other building equipment and facilities, in an operative, clean and sanitary condition.
E. 
Sanitary maintenance of walls, floors and ceilings.
F. 
Keeping exits clean and unencumbered.
G. 
Disposal of building garbage and refuse in a clean and sanitary manner.
H. 
Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests on the premises.
I. 
Installation and maintenance of required screens.
Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter in regard to the following:
A. 
Limiting occupancy of that part of the premises which he occupies or controls to the maximum permitted by this chapter.
B. 
Maintaining that part of the premises which he occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition.
C. 
Maintaining in a sanitary condition all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage facilities in that part of the premises which he occupies or controls, in a clean and sanitary condition and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof.
D. 
Keeping exits from his dwelling unit clean and unencumbered.
E. 
Disposal of garbage and refuse into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner.
F. 
Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within his dwelling unit if his unit is the only one infested in the premises.
G. 
Keeping his domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control.
H. 
In the event that cooking and/or refrigeration equipment is provided by the owner, the owner shall maintain the same in proper operating condition.
No owner, operator or occupant shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility which is required to be supplied by the provisions of this chapter, to be removed or shut off from or discontinued for any occupied dwelling unit except for necessary repairs, alterations or emergencies.
A. 
The provisions of this chapter shall supplement local laws, ordinances, codes or regulations. When a provision of this chapter is found to be inconsistent with any provisions of a statute, local law, ordinance, code or regulations, the provisions or requirement which is the more restrictive or which establishes the highest standard shall prevail. A greater penalty shall not be considered as more restrictive or a higher standard.
B. 
Notwithstanding the availability of other remedies for enforcement of the provisions contained in the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, Sanitary Code and Zoning Ordinances of the City, the remedies and enforcement procedures as set forth in this chapter may be used to enforce the provisions of the aforesaid enumerated City codes and ordinances and shall be deemed cumulative to other procedures and remedies.