Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-27
General requirements for buildings
Operative Text
A. Buildings and parts thereof shall be maintained so as to be capable of sustaining safely their own weight and the loads to which they may be subject. B. Buildings shall be maintained so that loads are transmitted to the soil without undue differential settlement, unsafe deformation or movement of the building or any structural part. C. Buildings shall be maintained so that protection is provided for all structural members which may become structurally unsound if left unprotected. Causes of such deterioration include, among others, action of freezing and thawing, dampness, corrosion, wetting and drying and termites or other destructive insects. D. Buildings built in soil which is water bearing at any season of the year shall be maintained so that ground and surface water will not penetrate into habitable spaces, basements and cellars.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-27 establishes baseline structural and environmental maintenance standards for all buildings. Under this provision, buildings must be kept structurally sound enough to bear their own weight and any imposed loads, with those loads safely transferred to the ground without harmful settling or movement. Structural members must be shielded from deterioration caused by factors such as moisture, freezing and thawing cycles, corrosion, and pest damage, and buildings on water-bearing soil must be kept free of ground and surface water intrusion in habitable spaces, basements, and cellars.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-27 generally conduct routine inspections to identify signs of structural compromise, including foundation movement, differential settlement, and deteriorating load-bearing members. Compliant operators typically address moisture intrusion, pest activity, corrosion, and freeze-thaw damage before these conditions progress to the point of structural unsoundness. Maintaining documentation of inspections, repairs, and waterproofing measures for buildings on water-bearing soil is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate ongoing compliance with this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-27 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns when a building shows signs of structural deterioration, such as foundation cracking, water seeping into basements or habitable spaces, or evidence of pest damage to structural elements. Tenants who observe such conditions may report them to the relevant Albany code enforcement authority, which has the power to inspect and require corrective action. Tenant-rights organizations in Albany can help residents understand how this provision applies to their building and what complaint or defense options may be available to them.
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.