Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-15
Enforcement and collection through foreclosure (Buffalo Housing Standards Ordinance)
Operative Text
A. Any uncollected penalties, costs, or fines recorded as a judgment and placed on the general tax roll shall be levied, enforced, and collected in the same manner, by the same proceedings, at the same time, under the same penalties and having the same lien on the property as the general tax lien, including the foreclosure on the lien by proceedings in rem pursuant to New York State Real Property Tax Law Article 11 . B. If, after the foreclosure on the general tax lien and partial collection of a judgment occurs pursuant to this section, and a balance for unpaid judgments remains against the former owner based on violation of housing or building code standards, the City may proceed to collect the balance using any other available remedy at law.
Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-15 establishes that unpaid housing-code penalties, costs, or fines that have been reduced to a judgment can be placed on the general tax roll and treated with the same legal force as a property tax lien. This means the City of Buffalo can pursue foreclosure on the property through in rem proceedings under New York State Real Property Tax Law Article 11 to satisfy those debts. If foreclosure only partially satisfies the outstanding judgment, the City retains the right to pursue any remaining balance against the former property owner through other legal remedies.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 242 § 242-15, property owners who allow housing or building code violations to result in unpaid fines face the risk of those fines being placed on the general tax roll and treated as a tax lien against the property. Compliant operators generally resolve code violations and associated penalties promptly, before judgments are recorded, to avoid the lien and foreclosure mechanisms this section authorizes. Even after a property changes hands through foreclosure, a former owner may still face personal liability for any judgment balance that was not fully satisfied through the foreclosure process.
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 § 242-15 is primarily a City enforcement tool that allows Buffalo to collect unpaid housing-code fines from property owners through tax-lien and foreclosure mechanisms. Tenants living in properties with unresolved code violations may find this provision relevant context when understanding how the City compels landlord compliance, since the threat of a tax lien and foreclosure can motivate owners to address outstanding violations. Tenants seeking to understand their rights in buildings with code violations can consult local tenant-rights organizations or the City of Buffalo's housing enforcement offices for information about available complaint and enforcement pathways.
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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