N.Y.C. Admin. Code tit. 27, ch. 2 § 27-2009.3
Inspections of unoccupied dwelling units (New York City Housing Maintenance Code)
Operative Text
a. Complaints about conditions in unoccupied dwelling units affecting occupied dwelling units in multiple dwellings. Upon receipt of a complaint about pests, leaks, accumulation of refuse, unsecured openings, mold, or inadequate firestopping in an unoccupied dwelling unit of a multiple dwelling that may be the cause of a hazardous or immediately hazardous condition in an occupied dwelling unit in such multiple dwelling, other than a complaint about an unoccupied dwelling unit in a multiple dwelling owned or operated by the New York city housing authority, the department shall notify the owner of such multiple dwelling to schedule an inspection of such unoccupied dwelling unit by the department within 21 days of such complaint. Such notification shall include information about the conditions on the inspection checklist set forth in subdivision b of this section. b. Inspection checklist. An inspection of an unoccupied dwelling unit conducted pursuant to subdivision a of this section shall include, but not be limited to, an inspection for the following conditions: 1. Unsecured openings; 2. Inadequate firestopping; 3. Leaks, defective plumbing, and mold; 4. Indications of the presence of any pests; 5. Accumulation of refuse; and 6. Smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors. c. Notice of violation. The department shall issue a notice of violation for any hazardous or immediately hazardous condition observed in an unoccupied dwelling unit inspected pursuant to subdivision a of this section. d. Publication. The department shall maintain a publicly accessible interface on the website of the department that lists violations issued pursuant to subdivision c of this section. (L.L. 2024/001, 1/6/2024, eff. 8/3/2024)
Under N.Y.C. Admin. Code § 27-2009.3, when a complaint is filed about conditions in an unoccupied dwelling unit of a multiple dwelling — such as pests, leaks, mold, refuse, unsecured openings, or inadequate firestopping — that may be causing a hazardous condition in an occupied unit, the city's housing department is required to notify the building owner to schedule an inspection within 21 days. The inspection follows a defined checklist covering those specific conditions, plus smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. If a hazardous or immediately hazardous condition is found, the department must issue a notice of violation, and those violations are published on a publicly accessible website.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 27-2009.3, compliant building owners generally respond promptly when notified by the department to schedule an inspection of an unoccupied dwelling unit within the 21-day window specified in the law. Operators typically ensure that vacant units are maintained free of pests, leaks, mold, refuse, unsecured openings, and inadequate firestopping, since these are the exact conditions on the statutory inspection checklist. Any notices of violation issued following such an inspection are posted publicly on the department's website, making timely remediation a standard part of responsible property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 27-2009.3 gives tenants in occupied units a formal pathway to trigger an inspection of a neighboring vacant unit that may be the source of hazardous conditions affecting their home — by filing a complaint with the city's housing department about pests, leaks, mold, refuse, unsecured openings, or inadequate firestopping. Once a complaint is received, the department is required by law to notify the owner and schedule an inspection within 21 days, and any violations found must be publicly listed on the department's website. Tenants who believe their occupied unit is being affected by conditions in a vacant unit may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand how a resulting notice of violation could be relevant to their situation.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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