Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 152 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 152-7
Administration
Operative Text
A. Authority and responsibility. The authority and responsibility for publicizing, administering, and enforcing this chapter shall be the Village's Fair Housing Officer, to be designated by the Mayor of the Village of Massena. B. Violations. Violations of this chapter shall be reported in person or in writing to the Village's Fair Housing Officer. C. Enforcement. Where sufficient cause exists to believe that the terms of this chapter have been violated, the Fair Housing Officer shall institute a suit in the Village Court against the alleged violator. D. Penalties. Where a person or organization has been found, after a trial on the merits, in violation of this chapter, a fine shall be imposed on such person or organization not to exceed $500 for a first offense, and $1,000 for each additional offense. The minimum find for violations of this chapter shall be $100 for a first offense, and $500 for each additional offense. Each and every separate violation of this chapter shall be deemed an offense for the purposes of imposing the appropriate fine.
Section 152-7 of Massena's fair housing ordinance (ch. 152) establishes the administrative framework for the village's fair housing rules. A Fair Housing Officer, appointed by the Mayor, is responsible for publicizing, administering, and enforcing the chapter. When a violation is found after a court trial, fines range from $100 to $500 for a first offense and from $500 to $1,000 for each additional offense, with every separate violation counted independently.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 152-7 of Massena Code ch. 152, property owners and managers are subject to oversight by the Village's Fair Housing Officer, who has authority to bring suit in Village Court when sufficient cause of a violation exists. Operators who maintain consistent, documented fair-housing practices—such as uniform application criteria and non-discriminatory communications—generally reduce exposure to complaints filed with the Fair Housing Officer. Because each separate violation is treated as a distinct offense under this section, repeated or multiple infractions can result in compounding fines.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 152-7 gives residents a clear reporting path: complaints about fair housing violations under ch. 152 can be submitted in person or in writing to the Village's Fair Housing Officer, who is designated by the Mayor of Massena. If the Officer finds sufficient cause, the matter proceeds to Village Court, where fines of up to $500 (first offense) or $1,000 (subsequent offenses) can be imposed on violators. Tenants who believe their rights under this chapter have been violated may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service for information about available options.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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