Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-130
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this part, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth in this section, unless different meanings are clearly indicated by the context in which they appear: EMERGENCY CONTACT An individual who resides in Albany County or any adjacent county who shall respond either individually or through an agent to the property at all times on 30 minutes' notice in the event of emergencies and who, if not the owner, has the authority to act on the owner's behalf and access all areas of a rental dwelling in the event of such emergencies. RENTAL DWELLING Any building which contains a rental dwelling unit. RENTAL DWELLING UNIT Any room or group of rooms within a rental dwelling which are used or intended to be used by one or more persons for living and sleeping with or without facilities for cooking and eating which is occupied by an individual or household for living and sleeping pursuant to an agreement with a third party which does not so occupy the room or group of rooms.
Section 231-130 of Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 establishes the working definitions for the rental-dwelling regulations that follow. Three core terms are defined: an 'Emergency Contact' must be a person living in Albany County or a neighboring county who can reach the property within 30 minutes and, if not the owner, must have authority to act on the owner's behalf; a 'Rental Dwelling' is any building containing a rental dwelling unit; and a 'Rental Dwelling Unit' is any room or group of rooms used for living and sleeping under an agreement with a party who does not also occupy the space. These definitions set the scope for how the rest of the ordinance is applied and interpreted.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 231-130, Albany property owners subject to ch. 231 are expected to designate an Emergency Contact who actually lives in Albany County or an adjacent county and can physically respond to the property within 30 minutes of being notified of an emergency. If the designated contact is not the owner, that person must hold documented authority to act on the owner's behalf and must be able to access all areas of the rental dwelling. Operators generally keep this contact information current and ensure the designated individual is aware of and prepared to fulfill the role at any time.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 231-130 defines the baseline terms that govern rental housing obligations in Albany, including the requirement that landlords maintain a reachable Emergency Contact for the property. Understanding these definitions can help tenants recognize whether a property and their living arrangement fall within the scope of ch. 231's protections and requirements. Tenants who believe a landlord is not complying with the ordinance's requirements may consider contacting the City of Albany's relevant code enforcement office or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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