Penal Law § 150.00

Arson; definitions · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 150.00 Arson; definitions.

As used in this article, 1. "Building", in addition to its ordinary meaning, includes any structure, vehicle or watercraft used for overnight lodging of persons, or used by persons for carrying on business therein. Where a building consists of two or more units separately secured or occupied, each unit shall not be deemed a separate building.

2. "Motor vehicle", includes every vehicle operated or driven upon a public highway which is propelled by any power other than muscular power, except (a) electrically-driven invalid chairs being operated or driven by an invalid, (b) vehicles which run only upon rails or tracks, and (c) snowmobiles as defined in article forty-seven of the vehicle and traffic law.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/PEN/150.00

In plain English

(1) For arson, a “building” includes an overnight-lodging or business structure, vehicle, or watercraft; separately secured or occupied units in one building are not separate buildings.
(2) A “motor vehicle” is a non-muscle-powered public-highway vehicle, excluding electrically driven invalid chairs used by an invalid, rail vehicles, and snowmobiles. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 4 — The Court Clerk: Penal Law; Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 3 — The Court Officer: Penal Law; Volume 3 — Your Career: Penal Law in Plain English.