New Paltz Town, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 94 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 94-4
Obligation of tenant to clean premises
Operative Text
Upon the termination of the tenancy or at the time that a tenant surrenders possession of the residential unit, whichever occurs later, the tenant shall have placed the residential unit in an overall clean condition as it was when the tenancy commenced, excepting normal wear and tear.
Under New Paltz Town Code ch. 94 § 94-4, when a tenancy ends or a tenant hands over possession of a residential unit—whichever happens later—the unit must be returned in roughly the same overall clean condition it was in at the start of the tenancy. Normal wear and tear that accumulates over the course of ordinary living is explicitly excluded from this requirement. The rule draws a line between everyday deterioration and a failure to maintain basic cleanliness.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under New Paltz Town Code ch. 94 § 94-4 generally document the condition of a unit at move-in—through written checklists, photographs, or video—so that the baseline cleanliness standard is clearly established. At move-out, that same documentation practice helps distinguish normal wear and tear from a genuine failure to return the unit in clean condition. Maintaining consistent records across all tenancies supports an operator's ability to apply this standard uniformly.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
New Paltz Town Code ch. 94 § 94-4 gives tenants a clear carve-out for normal wear and tear, meaning routine scuffs, minor fading, or gradual deterioration from ordinary use are not held against them at move-out. Tenants who document the unit's condition at both move-in and move-out—with photos, written notes, or a signed checklist—have a record that can be useful if a dispute arises over what counts as a cleanliness deficiency versus ordinary wear. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York State landlord-tenant law can help explain how this local provision interacts with broader state rules around security deposits and move-out obligations.
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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