Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 154, art. IV § 154-23
Construction of provisions (Buffalo Fair Housing Ordinance)
Operative Text
Nothing in this article shall be construed to invalidate or limit any law of the State of New York, the United States or any other jurisdiction that grants, guarantees or protects the same rights that are granted, guaranteed or protected by this article.
Section 154-23 of Buffalo's Code of Ordinances establishes that the protections in Article IV are a floor, not a ceiling. If federal law, New York State law, or the law of any other jurisdiction provides the same or stronger rights, those broader protections remain fully intact and are not diminished by this article. The provision is a standard 'non-preemption' or 'savings' clause designed to ensure that overlapping legal frameworks work together rather than against each other.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 154-23, operators subject to Buffalo's Article IV must recognize that compliance with the local ordinance does not necessarily satisfy obligations imposed by state or federal law. A compliant property owner or manager typically reviews all applicable layers of law—local, state, and federal—to ensure that no broader protection is inadvertently overlooked. Treating Buffalo's Article IV as the sole governing standard may leave gaps where New York State or federal requirements impose additional duties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 154-23 means that tenants covered by Buffalo's Article IV do not lose any rights they may hold under New York State law or federal law simply because the local ordinance exists. If a state or federal provision offers stronger protections than Article IV, those protections remain available as independent grounds for a claim or defense. Tenants who believe their rights under any of these overlapping frameworks have been violated may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or consult with a housing attorney to understand which body of law applies to their situation.
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.
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