Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-17
Payment prior to redemption; opportunity to cure (Buffalo Housing Standards Ordinance)
Operative Text
A. If a judgment against a property that has been placed on the general tax roll is satisfied in full prior to the expiration of the period for redemption pursuant to § 1110 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law, and the property is not otherwise subject to tax foreclosure proceeding for failure to meet other City tax obligations, the property shall be redeemed and removed from the City's action to foreclose. B. Owners subject to judgments that have been placed on the general tax roll pursuant to § 242-14 may make improvements to the property to cure the violation(s) that resulted in the judgment to prevent tax foreclosure. Owners must make such improvements and notify the Department of Permits and Inspections, in writing, of the same prior to the period for redemption pursuant to § 1110 of the New York State Property Tax Law. The determination of whether or not the violations have been cured to the satisfaction of the City shall be made by the City Department of Permits and Inspections. An appeal of this determination may be made to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days of determination. C. If an owner has satisfactorily cured the code violation(s), as determined by the City Department of Permits and Inspections, that resulted in the judgment being placed on the general tax roll, the judgment shall be removed from the general tax roll, and the City shall cease any proceeding to foreclose, provided the owner is current with other tax obligations. If the owner satisfactorily cures such violation but fails to pay the judgment in full, the amount owed pursuant to the judgment shall remain an ordinary lien on the property. D. Nothing in this section shall preclude an owner from entering into a payment plan with the City for amounts past due for code violations.
Buffalo Code § 242-17 establishes two pathways by which a property owner can stop a tax foreclosure action tied to code-violation judgments placed on the general tax roll. First, if the full judgment is paid off before the redemption period expires under New York State Real Property Tax Law § 1110, the property is removed from foreclosure proceedings. Second, if the owner makes the required property improvements to fix the underlying code violations and notifies the Department of Permits and Inspections in writing before that same deadline, the City may remove the judgment from the tax roll and halt foreclosure—though any unpaid judgment balance remains a lien on the property. Owners may also enter into a payment plan with the City for outstanding amounts, and any dispute over whether violations were adequately cured can be appealed to the Zoning Board of Appeals within 30 days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Buffalo Code § 242-17, property owners facing tax foreclosure due to code-violation judgments on the general tax roll generally have two routes to avoid losing the property: paying the judgment in full before the redemption period closes, or completing the required repairs and submitting written notice to the Department of Permits and Inspections within that same window. Compliant operators typically document all improvements thoroughly and confirm in writing with the Department of Permits and Inspections that violations have been resolved, since that department makes the official determination of whether a cure is satisfactory. Owners who cure violations but cannot immediately pay the full judgment should be aware that § 242-17 allows the remaining balance to stay as an ordinary lien, and the section explicitly preserves the option to negotiate a payment plan with the City.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Buffalo Code § 242-17 is primarily directed at property owners, but tenants living in properties subject to code-violation judgments and potential tax foreclosure may have an interest in understanding how this process works, since a successful cure of violations can affect housing conditions and the property's foreclosure status. If a property you occupy is involved in such proceedings, tenant-rights organizations in Buffalo can help you understand how the owner's obligations under § 242-17—including the requirement to make improvements and notify the Department of Permits and Inspections—may relate to your living conditions. Tenants who believe violations have not been properly addressed may also explore filing complaints with the Department of Permits and Inspections, which holds authority under § 242-17 to determine whether a cure is satisfactory.
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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