Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 227 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 227-3
Registration required; rental property requirements
Operative Text
A. All landlords must register with the Village of Massena on or before December 31 of each and every calendar year. Upon adoption of this article, initial registration will begin as soon as practicable after this article is effective. It is the responsibility of the property owner to register any rental property or properties, and failure to do so shall constitute a violation of this article and is subject to the penalties set forth herein. Registration of properties shall be at no cost. B. All absentee landlords must have a resident agent for each rental unit regardless of number of dwelling units. C. All rental properties with three or more dwelling units must have a valid rental certificate as set forth herein and must be inspected on an annual basis by such person as may be designated by the Village of Massena Board of Trustees from time to time. D. Any substandard condition identified during an inspection must be corrected by the property owner before a rental certificate shall be issued. Fees for inspection shall be assessed as set forth in § 300-29 , Building permits, certificates of occupancy and other fees. E. No housing unit shall be let, rented or occupied by someone other than the owner or his immediate family until the rental property has been registered.
Section 227-3 of Massena's Code of Ordinances establishes a mandatory annual registration requirement for all rental properties in the Village of Massena, with a December 31 deadline each year. Absentee landlords must designate a local resident agent for each rental unit, and properties with three or more dwelling units must hold a valid rental certificate backed by annual inspections. No rental unit may be occupied by anyone other than the owner or their immediate family until the property has been properly registered, and any substandard conditions found during inspection must be corrected before a rental certificate is issued.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 227-3, compliant rental property operators in Massena ensure their properties are registered with the Village by December 31 of each calendar year, at no cost. Absentee owners designate a resident agent for each rental unit, and those operating buildings with three or more dwelling units arrange for annual inspections and maintain a valid rental certificate, correcting any substandard conditions identified before the certificate is issued. Allowing a non-owner or non-immediate-family member to occupy a unit before registration is complete constitutes a violation subject to penalties under this article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 227-3 gives tenants in Massena a baseline assurance that their landlord is required to register the rental property annually and, for buildings with three or more units, obtain a valid rental certificate following inspection. If a tenant believes their unit was rented without proper registration or that a required rental certificate was not obtained, that potential violation of § 227-3 may be relevant to raise with the Village of Massena or a local tenant-rights organization. Tenants can also inquire whether their landlord has a designated resident agent on file, as required for absentee owners under this provision.
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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