Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-53
Requests for searches of records
Operative Text
Upon request, the Department of Buildings shall be required to make a search and issue a certificate of any of its public records, including violations, and shall have the power to charge and collect reasonable fees for such searches or certificates.
Under Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-53, the Department of Buildings is obligated to search its public records—including records of violations—and issue certificates of those records when requested. The Department is also authorized to charge reasonable fees for conducting searches and issuing certificates. This provision establishes both a public right of access to building records and a mechanism for the Department to recover the administrative costs of fulfilling such requests.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under ch. 149 § 149-53, the Mount Vernon Department of Buildings must provide certified records of its files, including any violations associated with a property, upon request. Compliant operators commonly obtain such certificates when conducting due diligence on a property, preparing for a sale or refinancing, or verifying that previously cited violations have been resolved. Reasonable fees are assessed for these searches and certificates, so budgeting for those costs is a standard part of the records-request process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 149-53 of Mount Vernon's Code of Ordinances gives the public the right to request that the Department of Buildings search its records and issue certificates, including records of any violations on a property. Tenants can use this provision to obtain official documentation of a building's violation history, which may be relevant when evaluating housing conditions or pursuing other remedies. Tenant-rights organizations can help individuals understand how to submit a records request and how the resulting information might be used in broader housing-related matters.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.