Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 151 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 151-53
Notices and orders
Operative Text
A. Notice to owner or to person or persons responsible. Whenever the code official determines that there has been a violation of this article or has grounds to believe that a violation has occurred, notice shall be given to the owner or the person or persons responsible therefor in the manner prescribed in Subsections B and C . Notices for condemnation procedures shall also comply with § 151-54C . B. Form. Such notice prescribed in Subsection A shall: (1) Be in writing; (2) Include a description of the real estate sufficient for identification; (3) Include a statement of the violation or violations and why the notice is being issued; and (4) Include a correction order allowing a reasonable time to make the repairs and improvements required to bring the dwelling unit or structure into compliance with the provisions of this article. C. Method of service. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served if a copy thereof is: (1) Delivered personally; (2) Sent by certified or first-class mail addressed to the last known address; or (3) If the notice is returned showing that the letter was not delivered, a copy thereof shall be posted in a conspicuous place in or about the structure affected by such notice. D. Penalties. Penalties for noncompliance with orders and notices shall be as set forth in § 151-52D . E. Transfer of ownership. It shall be unlawful for the owner of any dwelling unit or structure who has received a compliance order or upon whom a notice of violation has been served to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease or otherwise dispose of to another until the provisions of the compliance order or notice of violation have been complied with, or until such owner shall first furnish the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee a true copy of any compliance order or notice of violation issued by the code official and shall furnish to the code official a signed and notarized statement from the grantee, transferee, mortgagee or lessee, acknowledging the receipt of such compliance order or notice of violation and fully accepting the responsibility without condition for making the corrections or repairs required by such compliance order or notice of violation.
Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 151 § 151-53 establishes the process by which the code official must notify property owners or responsible parties when a housing violation is found or suspected. The notice must be written, identify the property, describe the violation, and give a reasonable deadline for correction. Importantly, an owner who has received a violation notice or compliance order generally cannot sell, transfer, mortgage, or lease the property until either the violations are corrected or the new party receives a copy of the notice and formally accepts responsibility for the required repairs in a signed, notarized statement filed with the code official.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 151-53, compliant property owners in Amherst typically maintain current contact information on file so that official notices can be properly served, whether by personal delivery, certified mail, or first-class mail. When a compliance order or notice of violation is received, operators generally address the cited deficiencies within the correction period specified in the notice to avoid escalating penalties referenced in § 151-52D. Owners who need to sell, transfer, or lease a property while a notice is outstanding typically ensure the incoming party receives a true copy of the notice and submits a signed, notarized acknowledgment of responsibility to the code official before the transaction is completed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 151-53 of the Amherst Code provides tenants with an important protection: an owner who has an unresolved compliance order or notice of violation on record is generally prohibited from transferring or leasing the property without either fixing the violations or formally disclosing them to the incoming party. If a tenant believes a landlord has sold or leased a property in violation of this provision, or that required repairs have not been made within the correction period, they may consider contacting the Amherst code enforcement office to inquire about the status of any open notices. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand how § 151-53 interacts with their lease and what general options may be available when violations go unaddressed.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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Rules and statutes that cite this regulation