Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-134
Residential occupancy permit
Operative Text
A. Upon successful registration of a rental dwelling, the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance shall issue to the owner of the rental dwelling or the owner's agent or designee a residential occupancy permit. B. The residential occupancy permit shall contain the following information: (1) A statement indicating that all units in the rental dwelling are subject to the residential occupancy permit or, if certain units have not been registered, a statement indicating which units are not the subject of the residential occupancy permit; (2) The name and contact phone numbers of the building owner's agents and emergency contact(s); (3) The contact information for the City of Albany Police Department, Fire Department, and Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance; (4) Contact information for available tenant advocacy resources as determined by the Chief Building Official; (5) The statement: "Retaliation against a tenant by a landlord for a tenant's 'good faith complaint, by or in behalf of the tenant, to a governmental authority of the landlord's alleged violation of any health or safety law, regulation, code, or ordinance' is illegal under New York State Real Property Law § 223-b . Any tenant concerned about such retaliation should consult an attorney."; (6) The statement: "Pursuant to Section 231-132(a) of the Albany City Code it shall be unlawful and a violation of Albany City Code to rent, lease or otherwise allow the occupancy of any rental dwelling unit without said rental dwelling unit having been registered on the City of Albany Rental Dwelling Registry. No owner, agent or person in charge may collect rents while a rental dwelling unit is unregistered."; and (7) The rental dwelling's rental dwelling registration expiration date. C. The residential occupancy permit shall be posted conspicuously adjacent to the primary egress point in the rental dwelling to which said residential occupancy permit applies or, if there is no such common egress point, at all common egress points.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-134 establishes that once a rental dwelling is successfully registered, the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance issues a residential occupancy permit to the owner or their representative. The permit must include specific information such as owner contact details, emergency contacts, city agency contact information, tenant advocacy resources, anti-retaliation language, a notice about the illegality of renting unregistered units, and the registration expiration date. The completed permit must be posted prominently at the building's primary common exit point, or at all common exits if no single primary egress exists.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 231-134, compliant rental property operators in Albany obtain a residential occupancy permit from the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance following successful registration of their rental dwelling. Operators ensure the permit contains all seven required elements — including owner and emergency contact information, city agency contacts, tenant advocacy resources, the mandated anti-retaliation statement, the unregistered-unit prohibition notice, and the registration expiration date. The permit is then posted conspicuously at the building's primary common egress point, or at every common egress point if no single primary exit exists, so that it remains visible to occupants.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 231-134 of the Albany City Code gives tenants the right to expect a residential occupancy permit to be posted visibly at the common exit of their building, providing key information including how to reach the building owner, emergency contacts, city agencies, and local tenant advocacy resources. The permit is also required to include a notice that landlord retaliation against tenants who make good-faith complaints to government authorities about health or safety violations is illegal under New York State Real Property Law § 223-b. Tenants who do not see a permit posted, or who have concerns about retaliation or an unregistered unit, may contact the Albany Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance, reach out to tenant advocacy organizations listed on the permit, or consult a tenant-rights resource for guidance on available options.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.