Code: SRO (Housing unit type)
Description: (Single Room Occupancy) is a type of small, low‑cost rental room in a multi‑tenant building where a person rents only one room and usually shares the bathroom, and sometimes the kitchen, with other people on the same floor. This type of housing is normally treated under special rules for Class B multiple dwellings and has extra safety, fire, and habitability requirements in New York City.
Practical Meaning: For a homeowner, SRO usually means that the building, or part of it, is legally set up as single‑room rentals with shared bathrooms or kitchens, and changing this layout normally needs permits, plans, and often a new Certificate of Occupancy. If you have SRO‑type rooms without proper approvals, DOB and HPD may treat them as illegal conversions, which can lead to violations, vacate orders, and expensive correction work.
Where You May See It: DOB violation notices and complaints, Certificate Of Occupancy, I‑cards and building history records, DOB NOW and BIS property search, HPD registration and CONH paperwork, lease or room rental agreements, reports from architects or engineers.
Why It Matters: SRO status affects what is legally allowed in the building, how many dwelling units the city recognizes, which fire and egress rules apply, and whether you must apply for a Certificate Of No Harassment (CONH) before converting the building back to standard apartments or a one‑family home. Illegal SRO layouts can block refinancing or sale, raise insurance and liability risk, and may result in high civil penalties, emergency repairs, or forced removal of tenants, so it is important not to confuse legal SRO units with unapproved “rooming” setups you create on your own.