New York Consolidated Laws, Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law - RPA § 796. Definitions

1. “Owner” means the owner or owners of the dwelling, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent, or any other person or entity directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling, but shall not include a receiver appointed pursuant to section three hundred nine of the multiple dwelling law.

2. “Dwelling” or “premises” means any building or structure or portion thereof which is occupied in whole or in part as the home, residence or sleeping place of one or more human beings and is either rented, leased, let or hired out, to be occupied as such, including, but not limited to, an apartment building, a condominium, a townhouse, a single-family house or a multiple-family residence building.  “Dwelling” or “premises” shall also include premises zoned for mixed residential and commercial use, provided that a portion of such premises are, in fact, occupied by one or more tenants for residential purposes.

3. “Commissioner” means the commissioner, chief supervisor or chief officer of a department.

4. “Department” means a department, agency or office.

5. “Municipality” means a county, city, town or village.

6. “Person” means an individual, partnership, corporation, association, trust or other group or legal entity, however organized.