Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 154, art. IV § 154-19

A. The Mayor of the City of Buffalo shall designate a Fair Housing Officer to receive, investigate and/or refer complaints under this article to a qualified fair housing enforcement agency certified to investigate and handle fair housing complaints. B. Any person or organization, whether or not an aggrieved party, may file with the Fair Housing Officer a complaint alleging violation of this article within one year from the date of the occurrence. Such complaint shall be in writing, and shall state the name and address of the person alleged to have committed the unlawful discriminatory practice complained of and which shall set forth the particulars thereof and contain such other information and in such form as required by the Fair Housing Officer. C. The Fair Housing Officer shall serve the accused party with notice of the alleged violation of this article within 60 days of the date of the receipt of a complaint. Such notice shall include a copy of the complaint and contain a statement that the accused party is required to submit a written answer in response to such complaint with the Fair Housing Officer no later than 20 days after the service of such notice. Such notice shall also contain a statement warning the accused party that failure to answer the complaint in the manner and time stated in the notice may result in a default finding of reasonable cause being entered against such party. A notice of violation shall be served by mailing a copy of the complaint to the accused party's actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode, "last known residence," or the address listed on the certificate of occupancy by certified mail, return receipt requested. The date of the mailing of the Fair Housing Officer's notification shall be endorsed thereon. The Fair Housing Officer shall, thereafter, make a prompt investigation in connection with the complaint sufficient to determine whether there is reasonable cause to establish discriminatory conduct. D. A person who was not named in a complaint, but who during the course of the investigation has been identified as a person alleged to have violated this article, may be joined as an additional or substituted party upon written notice as set forth herein to such a person, at any time, from the Fair Housing Officer. E. If upon the filing of any complaint with the Fair Housing Officer, any person takes any action to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person who, in the exercise or enjoyment of, or on account of having exercised or enjoyed, or on account of having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise or enjoyment of their rights, reported a violation of any right granted or protected by this article, such person shall be charged with retaliation under § 154- 17. F. During the period beginning with the service of such complaint and ending upon the filing of an action by the Corporation Counsel in accordance with § 154-20 herein or a dismissal by the Fair Housing Officer, the Fair Housing Officer shall, if in their judgment a conciliation agreement would satisfactorily resolve the complaint, engage in conciliation with respect to such complaint: (1) A conciliation agreement arising out of such conciliation shall be a binding agreement between the parties and shall be subject to approval by the Fair Housing Officer and approval as to form by the Corporation Counsel. A conciliation agreement shall include provisions requiring the accused party to refrain from unlawful discriminatory practices, settlement of the alleged violations and/or charges, and such other consideration(s) as agreed upon by the parties. (2) Whenever the Fair Housing Officer has reasonable cause to believe that a party has breached a conciliation agreement, the Fair Housing Officer shall refer the matter to the Corporation Counsel with a recommendation that a civil action be filed under § 154-20 for the enforcement of such agreement. G. Within 180 days of the date of receipt of the complaint, the Fair Housing Officer shall conclude the investigation and prepare a final investigative Report. (1) If, based upon the evidence, the Fair Housing Officer determines that reasonable cause exists to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred, the Fair Housing Officer shall refer the matter as detailed in § 154-20 herein. (a) Such referral shall consist of a statement of the facts upon which the Fair Housing Officer has found reasonable cause exists to believe that a discriminatory housing practice has occurred and shall include the final investigative report. (2) If, based upon the evidence, the Fair Housing Officer determines that reasonable cause does not exist to support a finding that discriminatory housing practice has occurred, the Fair Housing Officer shall dismiss the complaint and provide written notice of such findings to the accused party, the complainant, and the Corporation Counsel.