Elmira Town, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 170 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 170-4
Rental housing registry of owner; exemptions
Operative Text
A. In addition to any registry requirements pursuant to the state's multiple residence law , no person shall allow to be occupied, or rent to another for occupancy, any dwelling unit unless the owner first has registered the building with the Town in accordance with the provisions of § 170-5 . B. Exemptions. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to: (1) A municipal housing authority; (2) Hotels; (3) Motels; (4) Bed-and-breakfast establishments; (5) Hospitals and colleges, except for a building containing a dwelling unit being rented for other than direct hospital or college use; (6) Nursing homes; or (7) Other buildings which offer or provide medical or nursing services if such buildings are subject to state or federal licensing or regulations concerning the safety of the users, patients or tenants.
Section 170-4 of Elmira Town's Code of Ordinances requires that any building containing a dwelling unit be registered with the Town before it may be occupied or rented out. This registration requirement supplements, rather than replaces, any obligations that already exist under New York State's multiple residence law. Certain property types are carved out from the chapter entirely, including municipal housing authorities, hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfast establishments, hospitals and colleges (with a narrow exception for units rented for non-institutional purposes), nursing homes, and state- or federally-licensed medical or nursing facilities.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 170-4, a compliant rental property owner in Elmira Town ensures that every covered dwelling unit is registered with the Town pursuant to § 170-5 before allowing any occupancy or executing a rental arrangement. Operators of hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, nursing homes, and similar licensed medical facilities should confirm whether their property type qualifies for one of the enumerated exemptions, keeping in mind that a building on a hospital or college campus may still be subject to registration if units are rented for purposes unrelated to direct institutional use. Maintaining current registration records and renewing them as required by the Town helps demonstrate ongoing compliance with § 170-4.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 170-4 establishes that a landlord must register a dwelling unit with Elmira Town before it can lawfully be rented or occupied, giving tenants a basis to inquire whether their building appears in the Town's rental housing registry. If a tenant has reason to believe a unit was rented without the required registration under § 170-4, that concern can generally be raised with the appropriate Town enforcement office or used as a point of inquiry when reviewing the landlord's compliance status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Elmira Town's ordinances can help residents understand what remedies or defenses may be available in connection with an unregistered rental.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation