Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-78
Housing Board of Review
Operative Text
A. The Housing Board of Review shall consist of five persons, each to serve a term of three years. The members of the Board that is in existence at the time of the passage of this chapter shall continue to the end of their previously appointed terms. The Mayor shall appoint persons to fill vacancies that occur at the termination of such terms or due to resignation, in which case the appointment will be made to fill out the term from which the member resigned. B. The Secretary of the Board shall be the Director of Planning and Development or designee. The Board of Review shall adopt from time to time such rules and regulations as it may deem necessary to carry into effect the provisions of this chapter, and all its orders and resolutions shall be in accordance therewith. These rules and regulations shall be in effect when filed with the City Clerk. The Board, at its first meeting of the year, shall elect one of its own members as Chairperson. In the absence of the Chairperson at any meeting, the Board shall choose an Acting Chairperson for that meeting. C. The duties of the Housing Board of Review shall be to hear appeals for variances from the orders of the Director of Planning and Development or designee and to afford relief in such cases where, in its opinion, strict enforcement of the order would create practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship.
Section 210-78 of Ithaca's Code of Ordinances establishes the Housing Board of Review as a five-member appellate body, with members serving staggered three-year terms appointed by the Mayor. The Board is empowered to adopt its own procedural rules, which take effect upon filing with the City Clerk, and to elect its own Chairperson annually. Its core function is to hear appeals from orders issued by the Director of Planning and Development, with authority to grant variances or relief when strict enforcement would cause practical difficulties or unnecessary hardship.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 210-78, property owners who receive an order from the Director of Planning and Development have a formal avenue to seek relief through the Housing Board of Review. Compliant operators generally document the specific conditions that make strict enforcement of an order impractical or unduly burdensome before pursuing an appeal. Familiarity with the Board's procedural rules—filed with the City Clerk—helps operators understand the process for submitting a variance request.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 210-78 establishes the Housing Board of Review as the body that hears appeals of orders issued by the Director of Planning and Development in Ithaca. Tenants should be aware that this Board exists as an oversight mechanism, meaning that decisions affecting their housing conditions can be reviewed for whether strict enforcement is warranted. Those with concerns about a variance or appeal affecting their unit may consult the City Clerk's office for the Board's current rules and regulations, or reach out to 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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