Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-42

A. At least once every five years, all buildings containing rental dwelling units that are either a single-family unit or are two-family units shall be inspected by the Building Department for compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, City of Ithaca Municipal Code Chapter 210 , Housing Standards, and all applicable housing standards. At least once every three years, all buildings containing three or more rental dwelling units or rental dwelling units with five or more unrelated occupants shall be inspected by the Building Department for compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, New York State Multiple Residence Law , City of Ithaca Municipal Code Chapter 210 , Housing Standards, and all applicable housing standards. At least once a year, all student housing, all dormitories, fraternities and sororities shall be inspected by the Building Department for compliance with the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, New York State Multiple Residence Law, City of Ithaca Municipal Code Chapter 210 , Housing Standards, and all applicable housing standards. Buildings that contain both commercial and residential spaces are required to be inspected by the Building Department at the intervals required for the type of residential space and by the Fire Department at the intervals required for the commercial space. B. In addition to the inspections required by Subsection A of this section, a firesafety and property maintenance inspection of any residential rental unit may also be performed by the code enforcement personnel at any time upon: (1) Request of the owner of the property to be inspected or an authorized agent of such owner; (2) Receipt by the code enforcement personnel of a written statement alleging that conditions or activities failing to comply with the Uniform Code, Energy Code or other applicable code exist; or (3) Receipt by the code enforcement personnel of any other information, reasonably believed by the code enforcement personnel to be reliable, giving rise to reasonable cause to believer that conditions or activities failing to comply with the Uniform Code, Energy Code or other applicable code exist; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as permitting an inspection under any circumstances under which a court order or warrant permitting such inspection is required, unless such court order or warrant shall have been obtained. C. It shall be the responsibility of the owner of a rental property to schedule inspections and to obtain a certificate of compliance from the Building Department.