Hillburn, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 188 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 188-6
Enforcement
Operative Text
Without limitation on any available remedy, the Village of Hillburn shall have a choice of enforcing this chapter by seeking civil penalties or by instituting a criminal proceeding or may choose to do both. A. Criminal proceeding. A summons or appearance ticket for any violation of this chapter may be served in the County of Rockland as defined within the meaning of New York Criminal Procedure Law § 150.40 . In the event that the owner does not reside in the County of Rockland, then the owner shall be obligated to designate a managing agent who maintains a bona fide residence in the County of Rockland. B. A designating managing agent of an owner may be served with a notice of violation, order of remedy, order of violation, an appearance ticket or other service of process, whether criminal or civil, pursuant to and subject to the provisions of law as if actually served upon the owner. C. No owner who designates a managing agent pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may assert the defense of lack of notice or lack of in personam jurisdiction based solely upon the service of process upon his designated agent.
Section 188-6 of Hillburn's Code of Ordinances (ch. 188) gives the Village of Hillburn broad enforcement authority over its rental housing chapter, allowing it to pursue civil penalties, criminal proceedings, or both simultaneously against violators. Owners who live outside Rockland County are required to designate a local managing agent who maintains a genuine residence there, and that agent may receive any legal process—civil or criminal—on the owner's behalf. An owner who has designated such an agent cannot later claim they lacked notice or that the court lacks personal jurisdiction simply because service was made on the agent rather than directly on the owner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 188-6 of Hillburn's ch. 188, compliant property owners who reside outside Rockland County maintain a designated managing agent with a bona fide residence within the county and keep that designation current. Operators generally document the agent designation in writing so that service of any notice, order, or legal process on that agent is unambiguously authorized. Because § 188-6 forecloses jurisdictional and notice defenses once an agent is designated, property managers typically ensure the designated agent is reachable and aware of their role in receiving official communications.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 188-6 of Hillburn's ch. 188 establishes that the Village can pursue both civil and criminal enforcement of the rental housing code, which means violations may result in meaningful consequences for non-compliant owners. Tenants should be aware that an owner's out-of-county residence is not a barrier to enforcement, since the law requires a local managing agent to be designated and reachable for service of process. Tenants who believe a violation of ch. 188 has occurred may consider contacting the Village of Hillburn directly to inquire about enforcement options, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on available paths.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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