Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 44 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 44-12
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
A. Any violation of this Chapter by a person, firm, corporation or other entity shall be a violation punishable in accordance with the general penalty provisions under § 83-1-5 of the Town Code of the Town of Amherst, with said penalties to be in addition to the revocation of a rental dwelling unit registration certificate issued under the provisions of this Chapter. In addition, the annual registration fee will double thirty (30) days after the due date has passed and a second invoice for payment has been sent first-class mail to the owner. In addition, a summons will be issued sixty (60) days after the due date has passed and a fine in the amount of Seventy-Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($75.00) will be imposed in addition to all outstanding registration fees and late charges. Furthermore, a notice to vacate may be issued and all tenants removed for failure to register a dwelling unit thirty (30) days after the due date has passed and after notice to the owner and occupants by the Commissioner. B. Notwithstanding the lack of a specific reference thereto, failure to comply with any section, provision or requirement of this Chapter or of the Town Code or of any other State or federal law, code or ordinance shall be a violation and shall be punishable by a fine or penalty of not more than One Thousand Five Hundred Dollars and Zero Cents ($1500.00) or by imprisonment for not more than fifteen (15) days, or by both such fine and imprisonment, for each such offense and any other applicable state statutes. This Chapter is a part of the Town's health, safety, housing, building, fire prevention and housing codes, and a violation thereof shall be deemed to be a violation for purposes of state statutes allowing escrow of rent to remedy violations. Any charges involving violations of this Chapter may be brought before the Amherst Town Court. C. Lead-based paint violations are subject to fines pursuant to § 83-1-5 of the Town Code of the Town of Amherst, Schedule of fines and penalties. In addition, upon a finding of existing lead-based paint violations, the owner of the affected property must remediate said violation. Remediation is complete when a licensed lead inspector provides a letter of compliance for said property, or when a licensed lead risk assessor provides a one (1) year letter of interim control for the property. Letters of interim control are valid for one (1) year and may be renewed only once. In addition, the Commissioner or his/her designee, may determine that a lead-based paint violation is in compliance. Failure to remediate may result in the revocation of the property's rental registration certificate.
Section 44-12 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 44 establishes a layered penalty structure for violations of the town's rental dwelling chapter. Landlords who fail to register on time face a doubled annual fee after 30 days, a $75 fine after 60 days, and potential removal of tenants after 30 days following notice. More broadly, any violation of the chapter can result in fines up to $1,500 and/or up to 15 days imprisonment per offense, and lead-based paint violations carry their own remediation requirements and potential loss of the rental registration certificate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to ch. 44 § 44-12 generally stay current on rental dwelling unit registration deadlines to avoid the escalating consequences—doubled fees, a $75 summons, and ultimately a notice to vacate—that kick in at 30- and 60-day intervals past the due date. Compliant operators also address any lead-based paint findings promptly, securing either a letter of compliance from a licensed lead inspector or a one-year interim control letter from a licensed lead risk assessor, since failure to remediate can result in revocation of the rental registration certificate. Because violations under this chapter can be brought before Amherst Town Court and may carry fines up to $1,500 per offense, maintaining thorough documentation of registration payments and any remediation work is a practice commonly associated with compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under ch. 44 § 44-12, tenants in Amherst rental units have an interest in whether their landlord has properly registered the dwelling, because a failure to register can ultimately lead to a notice to vacate issued by the Commissioner after notice to both the owner and occupants. Importantly, the provision states that violations of this chapter are deemed violations for purposes of state statutes that allow rent to be placed in escrow to remedy violations, which is a potential enforcement path worth understanding. Tenants who believe their unit may be unregistered or that lead-based paint violations exist can contact the Town of Amherst directly or consult a local tenant-rights organization to learn more about available options under this provision.
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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