Elmira, N.Y., Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-507
Penalties
Operative Text
(a) Failure to comply with a violation order, within the time limit stated therein, shall constitute an offense. A person convicted of an offense shall be punished by a fine not to exceed $500.00 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed one year, or both. Each and every day of such failure to comply with a violation order, after such time limit, may constitute a separate offense for which the aforesaid penalties may be cumulatively imposed. (b) A person who fails to comply with a violation order within 30 days of said order, which shall be determined by personal inspection by the court or personal inspection by the housing code department, notwithstanding the penalties set forth in subsection (a) of this section, shall pay a penalty as follows: Not less than $25.00 nor more than $250.00. (c) A person who fails to comply with a violation order within 60 days of said order, shall constitute a separate violation, which shall be determined by personal inspection by the court or personal inspection by the housing code department, notwithstanding the penalties set forth in subsection (a) of this section, shall pay a penalty as follows: Not less than $100.00 nor more than $500.00. (d) A person who fails to comply with a violation order within 90 days of said order shall constitute a separate violation, which shall be determined by personal inspection by the court or personal inspection by the housing code department, notwithstanding the penalties set forth in subsection (a) of this section, and shall pay a penalty as follows: Not less than $200.00 nor more than $500.00. (e) The penalties set forth in this section shall not be imposed upon a person who by operation of law acquires premises containing violations for which a violation order has been issued, for a period of six months after the date of such acquisition of the premises. Nevertheless, the penalties provided shall attach and apply either upon the expiration date or such six-month period, or upon transfer of title to the premises before the expiration of such period, whichever first occurs.
Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-507 establishes a tiered penalty structure for property owners who fail to comply with housing violation orders. Noncompliance can result in criminal fines up to $500 and/or up to one year of imprisonment, with each day of continued noncompliance potentially counting as a separate offense. Civil penalties also escalate over time: $25–$250 if unresolved within 30 days, $100–$500 if unresolved within 60 days, and $200–$500 if unresolved within 90 days. A person who acquires a property already subject to a violation order generally has a six-month grace period before these penalties begin to apply.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-507, compliant property operators generally address any issued violation orders promptly and within the deadlines specified in those orders to avoid escalating civil penalties and potential criminal liability. Because penalties increase at the 30-, 60-, and 90-day marks—and each day of continued noncompliance can be treated as a separate offense—operators typically document all remediation steps and timelines carefully. Those who acquire property already carrying open violation orders should be aware that the six-month grace period under § 8-507(e) has defined limits, including early expiration upon any subsequent transfer of title.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Elmira Code ch. 8, art. V § 8-507 gives tenants context for understanding how the city enforces housing violation orders against property owners who fail to make required repairs or corrections. If a landlord has received a violation order and is not complying, the escalating penalty structure—including potential criminal charges—reflects the seriousness with which Elmira treats ongoing noncompliance. Tenants who believe a violation order is being ignored may consider contacting the Elmira housing code department to request a status inspection, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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