Middletown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 296 § 296-37
Hearings
Operative Text
A. If a decision is made not to renew a rental permit application, or if a decision is made to revoke a permit, the permit holder shall be notified of the reason(s) therefor by written notice from the Commissioner mailed to the permit holder by regular and by certified mail, return receipt requested. A permit holder has 10 working days from the date of such written notice to request a hearing before a special committee of the Common Council as hereinafter provided. All requests for hearings must be in writing, directed to the Clerk of the Common Council, and accompanied by a fee of $100. If the permit holder requests such a hearing, the permit holder shall be issued a temporary permit by the Commissioner of Public Works which shall expire 60 days after the final decision of the special committee of the Common Council. No temporary permits may be issued in the event of a revocation of a rental permit. B. Upon a request for a hearing, the President of the Common Council shall designate a special committee to consist of the President of the Common Council and one Alderperson from each ward. The President shall act as presiding officer at the hearing. The hearing shall be conducted within 30 days after receipt of the request therefor. The hearing shall be public, and the permit holder may be represented by counsel and shall be able to call witnesses in his or her behalf. The special committee, in its discretion, may rescind a revocation for good cause shown. The special committee shall issue a written decision within 20 days after the hearing, and the Clerk of the Common Council shall provide the permit holder with a copy of this decision within five business days after its issuance. C. In the event the permit holder is not satisfied with the decision of the special committee, such permit holder may file an Article 78 proceeding under the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules, except that such Article 78 proceeding must be filed within 30 days of the filing of the special committee's decision with the City Clerk of the City of Middletown and service of the same upon the permit holder.
Section 296-37 of Middletown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 296 establishes a formal hearing process for rental permit holders whose permits have been denied renewal or revoked. When such a decision is made, the permit holder receives written notice and has 10 working days to request a hearing before a special committee of the Common Council, accompanied by a $100 filing fee. The special committee must hold the hearing within 30 days, issue a written decision within 20 days after the hearing, and the permit holder may further challenge an unfavorable outcome through an Article 78 proceeding filed within 30 days of the decision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 296-37, property owners or managers who receive a written notice of permit non-renewal or revocation from the Commissioner should be aware that the window to request a hearing is narrow — only 10 working days from the date of that notice. A compliant operator generally submits a written hearing request to the Clerk of the Common Council along with the required $100 fee within that timeframe, and retains documentation of the submission. Operators facing non-renewal (but not revocation) who request a hearing are typically issued a temporary permit valid for 60 days after the special committee's final decision, providing continued lawful operation during the appeal period.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 296-37 primarily governs the rights of rental permit holders — typically landlords — but the hearing process it establishes has indirect significance for tenants, since a permit revocation or non-renewal can affect the legal status of a rental unit. Tenants in a property subject to permit proceedings may wish to monitor the outcome of any special committee hearing, as the result can influence whether the unit remains legally rentable. Tenant-rights organizations in the Middletown area can help residents understand how permit status under ch. 296 may affect their housing situation and what options may be available to them.
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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