Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-2
Applicability
Operative Text
A. This Part 1 shall apply to residential premises as follows: (1) Lots, plots or parcels of land on which residential buildings, buildings of mixed occupancy or accessory structures are located. (2) Residential buildings, including one- and two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings, except as specifically excluded in Subsection B . (3) Residential occupancies in buildings of mixed occupancy. (4) Accessory structures accessory to residential occupancies. B. This Part 1 shall not apply to transient hotels, transient motels, mobile homes, or to other forms of temporary housing, including but not limited to tourist camps, farm labor camps and travel trailers.
Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-2 defines the scope of the city's residential property maintenance rules. The rules cover a broad range of residential settings—including single-family homes, two-family homes, multi-unit buildings, mixed-use buildings with residential occupancies, and accessory structures tied to those residences. However, the rules explicitly do not apply to transient hotels, motels, mobile homes, tourist camps, farm labor camps, or travel trailers, which are treated as temporary housing outside this framework.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 210-2, property owners and managers operating any covered residential property in Ithaca—from a single-family rental to a large multi-unit building—are generally expected to comply with the maintenance and habitability standards set out in Part 1 of Chapter 210. Operators of mixed-use buildings should be aware that the residential portions of those structures fall within the ordinance's reach even if commercial spaces do not. Owners of properties that might fall near the boundary—such as extended-stay arrangements—should be familiar with the exclusions listed in Subsection B to understand whether their property type is covered.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 210-2 establishes that most renters living in Ithaca residential buildings—including those in multi-unit complexes, two-family homes, or the residential portion of a mixed-use building—are protected by the standards in Part 1 of Chapter 210. If a tenant believes their landlord is not meeting the obligations that flow from this ordinance, they may have the option of raising a violation as a defense in certain proceedings or filing a complaint with the appropriate local code enforcement authority. Tenants uncertain about whether their specific housing type falls within or outside the exclusions in § 210-2(B) may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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