Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 44 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 44-20
Fees
Operative Text
A. Certificate issuance. There is no fee at the time of application, for the issuance of a rental dwelling unit registration certificate. The certificate shall be valid for three (3) years. Upon application, the owner shall schedule the property for an inspection at which point a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75) per rental unit shall be paid. B. Short term rental dwelling unit certificate fees. All owners engaged in short term rentals where the property is owner occupied, shall pay an annual fee of Two Hundred Fifty Dollars ($250.00) per unit. The owner of a property engaged in short term rentals where the property is not owner occupied shall pay an annual fee of Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00) per unit. Renewal fee. The owner of a rental dwelling unit shall pay an annual renewal fee of Seventy Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($75.00) per rental unit. The owner remains obligated to pay such fee during ownership of the rental dwelling unit and shall pay any delinquencies therein before transferring all or any part of the ownership of said unit. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a new owner making application for a certificate is obligated, and shall be required, to pay all such current and delinquent annual fees with the application. All funds generated from the Rental Dwelling Unit Registration Ordinance shall be placed in a designated account. The use of these funds shall be solely for the hiring of an additional staff person and/or necessary equipment for the Rental Dwelling Unit Registration Program in the Building Department. C. No fee for new buildings. There shall be no fee charged for the issuance of a rental dwelling unit registration certificate for new dwellings at the completion of their construction covered by a building permit. D. Inspection fees. Every property owner shall pay a fee of Seventy-Five Dollars and Zero Cents ($75.00), to be assessed against the property, for each inspection after the second inspection in which violations of a state or local building code are found, unless such fee is waived by the Commissioner. Inspectors shall assess the fee, after consultation with the Commissioner, when, in the evaluation of the inspector, the status of the violation has not progressed or been satisfactorily completed. The fee shall not be applicable to inspections ordered after the commencement of a court action.
Section 44-20 of Amherst, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 44 establishes a schedule of fees tied to the rental dwelling unit registration program. A $75-per-unit fee is due at the time of inspection for initial certificate issuance, and an annual renewal fee of $75 per unit applies for the life of ownership. Short-term rental properties carry higher annual fees—$250 per unit if owner-occupied, or $500 per unit if not—and repeat inspection fees of $75 per unit may be assessed when code violations persist beyond a second inspection, though that fee can be waived by the Commissioner and does not apply once court proceedings have begun.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 44-20, compliant rental property owners in Amherst budget for the $75-per-unit inspection fee at initial registration, the $75 annual renewal fee per unit, and, if applicable, the higher short-term rental fees of $250 or $500 per unit annually depending on owner-occupancy status. Owners who fall behind on renewal fees remain personally obligated to clear all delinquencies before transferring ownership, and any new owner acquiring a property must pay both current and past-due fees at the time of application. Operators who address code violations promptly after inspections can avoid the additional $75 per-inspection fee that § 44-20(D) authorizes after a second failed inspection.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 44-20 is primarily a fee and registration provision directed at property owners, but it supports a broader rental registration program administered through Amherst's Building Department that is designed to ensure rental units meet state and local building codes. Tenants who believe their landlord has not registered a unit or is operating without a valid certificate may contact the Building Department to inquire about a property's registration status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Amherst's rental ordinance (ch. 44) can help renters understand how the registration and inspection framework may relate to habitability concerns in their building.
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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