Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-1
Compliance required (Buffalo Housing Standards Ordinance)
Operative Text
Every building used in whole or in part as a home or residence of one or more persons shall conform to the requirements of §§ 242-1 through 242-11, inclusive, irrespective of the class to which such building may otherwise belong and irrespective of when such building may have been constructed, altered or repaired, unless otherwise provided in this chapter.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-1 establishes that every residential building in Buffalo — regardless of its age, construction date, or classification — must meet the standards set out in §§ 242-1 through 242-11. The rule applies universally: a building does not escape compliance simply because it was built before the code was enacted or because it falls into a particular building category. Exceptions exist only where the chapter itself explicitly provides for them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-1, property owners and managers operating any building used even partly as a residence are generally expected to maintain compliance with the full set of requirements found in §§ 242-1 through 242-11, without regard to how old the structure is or how it is otherwise classified. Compliant operators typically conduct regular inspections to confirm that older or mixed-use buildings meet current standards, and they document any chapter-specific exemptions that may apply to their property. Staying current with all sections of ch. 242 is a standard part of responsible property management in Buffalo.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-1 affirms that tenants living in any residential building — old or new, of any classification — are entitled to the protections established throughout §§ 242-1 through 242-11. If a building appears to fall short of those standards, tenants generally have the option of reporting concerns to the appropriate Buffalo municipal code enforcement office or raising the violation in relevant legal proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations in the Buffalo area can help residents understand which specific provisions of ch. 242 may apply to 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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation