Lackawanna, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 116 § 116-7
Civil penalties
Operative Text
A court granting a petition pursuant to this section may, in addition to any other order provided by law, make an order imposing and requiring the payment by the respondent of a civil penalty not exceeding $5,000 to the City of Lackawanna, in which subject premises is located, and the payment of reasonable attorneys' fees and the cost of the proceeding to the petitioner. In any such case, multiple respondents shall be jointly and severally liable for any payment so ordered, and the amounts of such payments constitute a lien upon the subject real property.
Section 116-7 of Lackawanna's Code of Ordinances authorizes a court, when granting a petition under this section, to impose a civil penalty of up to $5,000 payable to the City of Lackawanna, along with reasonable attorneys' fees and proceeding costs payable to the petitioner. When multiple parties are found liable, they share joint and several responsibility for any amounts ordered, meaning each can be held responsible for the full amount. Any unpaid penalties and fees become a lien on the subject property itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 116-7, property owners and managers found liable in a court proceeding face civil penalties up to $5,000 payable to the City of Lackawanna, plus the petitioner's attorneys' fees and court costs. Operators who co-own or co-manage a property should be aware that joint and several liability means any one of them could be held responsible for the entire amount ordered. Compliant operators generally maintain their properties in accordance with local code requirements to avoid the petition process that triggers these penalties, and they ensure that any court orders are satisfied promptly to prevent a lien from attaching to the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 116-7 provides that when a court grants a petition under this section, it can order the respondent to pay a civil penalty of up to $5,000 to the City of Lackawanna, as well as the petitioner's reasonable attorneys' fees and costs. This means that tenants or other petitioners who successfully pursue a court action under this provision may be entitled to recover their legal costs. Those who believe a violation has occurred may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand whether pursuing a petition under § 116-7 is an appropriate path, and what documentation might support such a proceeding.
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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