Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-104

A. The Bureau shall be charged with the duty of administering this code and securing compliance therewith except as restricted by Subsection C and shall be empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing such compliance and for its own organization and internal management, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with this code. B. It shall be the duty of the chief officer: (1) To cause periodic inspections to be made of all premises within the scope of this code, to cause an inspection to be made upon the sale of any housing accommodations covered by this code and, at the request of the buyer or seller, to make such inspection prior to the closing of title for such premises. (2) To cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or insanitary conditions. All complaints must be in writing, setting forth the alleged violation or other unsafe or insanitary conditions, and shall be signed by the complainant with his, her or their address. Such complaints should be filed with or addressed to the chief officer, Bureau of Code Enforcement, City of Albany, New York. The name of the complainant shall not be revealed except as may be required in the course of legal action. (3) To request the Corporation Counsel of the City to take appropriate legal action in the name of the Bureau upon failure of the responsible party to comply with any violation order within the time specified therein. (4) To cooperate with other municipal governmental agencies engaged in the survey, study and improvement of housing conditions. (5) To issue a certificate of compliance for premises which satisfy the requirements of this code. (6) To charge such fees as may be established by the Common Council of the City of Albany. (7) To submit to the Mayor an annual report of the Bureau and recommendations for the future. (8) To cooperate with the City of Albany Fire and Emergency Services personnel pursuant to Subsection D of this section. C. Violations of such provisions of this code which are specifically covered by or within the scope of the Sanitary Code of the Albany County Health District and/or the Public Health Law of the State of New York shall be referred to the County Commissioner of Health or his designated representative. These referrals shall be for the following purposes: (1) To make inspections of said referred alleged violations and report in writing such findings to the chief officer of the Bureau of Code Enforcement. (2) At the time of submitting such report, the County Commissioner of Health or his designated representatives making the report shall inform the chief officer of the Bureau in writing that: (a) All or part of the violations contained in the report will be administered by and compliance secured in accordance with the provisions of said Sanitary Code and/or Public Health Law ; or (b) All or part of the violations contained in the report may be administered by and compliance secured in accordance with the provisions of the Housing Code of the City of Albany, and the inspector making such inspection shall cooperate with the chief officer of the Bureau to obtain compliance. The items of violation contained in the report shall be included in any notice or order issued by the chief officer of the Bureau and in all legal proceedings pertaining thereto. D. Authorized personnel of the City of Albany Department of Fire and Emergency Services are hereby empowered to issue notices and orders and all related papers pursuant to §§ 231-108 , 110 and 113 of this Code if, in the course of their duties, reasonable grounds to believe that there has been a violation of any provision of this Code, or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, is determined.