Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-43

A. All single-family or two-family rental dwellings shall be required to hold a valid certificate of compliance. Such certificate shall be valid for a period of not more than five years. Before the expiration of the certificate of compliance, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the rental property to schedule a housing inspection with the Building Division in order to obtain a new certificate of compliance. All rental dwellings with three or more units or rental dwelling units with five or more unrelated persons shall also be required to hold a valid certificate of compliance. This certificate of compliance shall be valid for a period of not more than three years. Prior to the expiration of the certificate of compliance, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the rental property to schedule a housing inspection with the Building Division in order to obtain a new certificate of compliance. All dormitories, fraternities and sororities shall be required to hold a valid certificate of compliance. Such a certificate shall be valid for a period of not more than one year. Before the expiration of the certificate of compliance, it shall be the responsibility of the owner of the rental property to schedule a housing inspection with the Building Division in order to obtain a new certificate of compliance. (1) The certificate of compliance shall be displayed in the main entryway of the rental dwelling, and accessible for all tenants to see. If units do not have a central entrance, the current certificate of compliance shall be posted on the inside of a kitchen cabinet in each unit. (2) All rental dwelling leases must state whether the rental dwelling has a valid certificate of compliance, its expiration date, and a current link to the certificate of compliance database where the certificate of compliance can be verified. A current link can be obtained from the Building Division, and may be updated from time to time by the Building Division. (3) Any rental dwelling that has obtained a valid certificate of compliance shall be presumed to continue being a rental dwelling or rental unit thereafter, regardless of the expiration of the certificate of compliance or until such time that the owner provides a written statement to the Building Division that the dwelling or unit is no longer rented and it is inspected by the Building Division to confirm that it is no longer rented. B. A certificate of compliance shall be issued upon verification by inspection that no violations of applicable provisions of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, City of Ithaca Municipal Code, City of Ithaca Zoning Ordinance, New York State Multiple Residence Law and any other applicable codes and ordinances exist. C. Certificates of compliance shall not be issued to: (1) Any rental unit that is in violation of any applicable City or state code. (2) Any rental unit located on a property for which there is an outstanding violation of any section of Chapter 178 . (3) Any rental unit which is not in compliance with all orders of the Director of Planning and Development or designee. D. Failure of an owner of any rental unit to hold a valid certificate shall be deemed a violation of the Housing Code, and such dwelling unit may be ordered by the Director of Planning and Development or designee to be vacated until the property is brought into compliance with this chapter. E. Verified over-occupancy will result in the immediate revocation of the certificate of compliance. F. The fees for a certificate of compliance shall be a combination of the following charges: (1) Initial inspection fee. The Initial inspection fee shall be accrued and payable at the time of certificate of compliance inspection application. Type Fee a. One-family dwelling $100 b. Two-family dwelling $175 c. Multiple dwellings (1) Apartment houses Apartments with 3 to 8 dwelling units $300 Apartments with 9 to 20 dwelling units $500 Apartments with 21 to 100 dwelling units $1,000 Apartments with 101 to 250 dwelling units $1,750 Apartments with 251 or more dwelling units $2,500 (2) Live/work units Per dwelling unit $100 (3) Congregate living facilities, co-ops, and boarding houses $350 (4) Fraternities and sororities $500 (5) Dormitories Dormitories with up to 75 sleeping units $500 Dormitories with 76 to 150 sleeping units $750 Dormitories with 151 or more sleeping units $1,000 (2) Additional fees to be processed, as applicable, after initial inspection. Items in Subsection F(2)(b) and (c) will be accrued each time the inspector needs to make a return trip. (a) Violation (per violation at initial inspection): $10. (b) Uncorrected violation (per violation at re-inspection): $50. (c) Re-inspection (hourly per return trip for re-inspection): $75/hour, minimum $75/trip. G. When the accumulated fee pursuant to Subsection F(2) is $300 or more, the property owner shall be billed for services rendered at the rates established pursuant to Subsection F . This fee shall be paid through the applicant's portal access to the City's online permitting and inspecting service within 30 days of the billing date. If the required fee is not paid within 30 days of the billing date, the City Chamberlain shall enter the same as a lien against the premises as provided in § C-54 of the Charter of the City of Ithaca. The Chamberlain shall add the same to the next assessment roll of general City taxes and shall collect and enforce the assessment in the same manner and by the same proceedings, at the same time and with the same penalties as the general City tax and as a part thereof, except that, in addition to the penalties provided for in the aforementioned provisions, interest shall accrue from the date of billing to the date of actual payment at 12% per annum or $3 per month, whichever is greater. H. When a property is sold without a current certificate of compliance, any unpaid fees for services pursuant to Subsection F at the time of the sale shall be due and shall be billed pursuant to Subsection G . Such fees shall be the responsibility of the new owner. I. The exclusive administrative remedy for a property owner wishing to appeal the amount of the bill which has been established pursuant to Subsection G is to file a notice of appeal with the Director of Planning and Development within seven days of the mailing date to the property owner of the bill for the inspection services. When a notice of appeal is filed, the Director of Planning and Development, using the regulations of the Housing Board of Review, shall schedule the matter at the next possible regular meeting of the Housing Board of Review. The property owner then has the responsibility to perfect the appeal to the Housing Board of Review by submitting three copies of the appeal and detailing the reasons why the property owner believes the fee is not justified. The property owner bears the burden of establishing that the accounting submitted by the inspector of the time spent for initial inspection, correspondence, review of the appropriate files, transportation, further inspections or other time spent is inaccurate. The Housing Board of Review shall have the authority to approve or reject such appeal in whole or in part.