Norwich, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 310 § 310-3

A. All rental housing properties are subject to inspection by the City of Norwich Codes Department at each change of tenant(s). At the time of such inspection, all interior and exterior parts of the rental housing property must be available and accessible for such inspection, and the owner/property agent/occupant are required to provide the necessary arrangements to facilitate such inspections. Such inspection shall be made between 8:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m., unless one of the following exists: (1) The premises are not available during the foregoing hours for inspection; or (2) There is reason to believe that a violation exists of a character which is an immediate threat to health and safety, requiring inspection and abatement without delay. B. Where a rental housing property consists of more than one rental housing unit, and an inspection is required due to a change in tenancy rather than the three-year inspection, those rental housing units in the rental housing property in which no change in tenancy has occurred will not be subject to inspection unless otherwise required under this Code. Rental housing units in which no change in tenancy has occurred remain subject to the three-year inspection. C. Application for inspection. Whenever an owner/property agent or bona fide occupant shall apply to the City of Norwich Codes Department for an inspection in order to ascertain if any section of this Code has been violated, the Codes Department shall, upon payment of the fee hereunder stated, cause an inspection to be made of the premises and issue an information certificate or report of the inspection to the applicant, indicating therein any violations on the premises. The applicant for such inspection shall state, in writing, his or her full name, residence address and the reasons and basis for which the inspection is requested. The application may be denied for failure to comply with this requirement. Upon a passed inspection the property owner shall be issued a certificate for rental occupancy by the City of Norwich Codes Department. This certificate is nontransferable; it is only valid for the tenant in which the application was made. D. Application for status report. Where an owner/property agent/occupant or bona fide prospective occupant requests a status report as to whether or not there are any known violations presently pending on the premises, upon payment of the fee prescribed herein and a written request, a copy of any notice or order on any violation then pending shall be sent to the applicant. E. The enforcement officer is hereby authorized and directed to make inspections to determine whether the condition of dwellings, dwelling units and rooming units and premises located within the City of Norwich are in compliance with the requirements of this chapter. For that purpose and in order that he may perform his duty of safeguarding the health and safety of the occupants of such dwellings and the general public, the enforcement officer is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units and premises with permission of the occupant and subsequent notification being given to the owner. However, such inspections shall be made upon request to the occupant of the premises to be inspected and at the convenience of such occupant. In the event that access to such dwelling or premises cannot be obtained upon request to the occupant and after reasonable effort to obtain access by permission, the enforcement officer, if he has reason to believe said dwelling unit for the inspection of which permission has been refused or has not been given after reasonable request is in violation of one or more of the provisions of this chapter, may apply to a court of competent jurisdiction upon affidavit for an order directing that the said enforcement officer have access to said dwelling or premises for the purpose of making his inspection. The court, if satisfied from the papers presented to it that there is reasonable ground to believe that the aforesaid dwelling or premises may be in violation of one or more of the provisions of this chapter, shall grant and issue an order directed to the occupant and owner of said dwelling or premises requiring that the enforcement officer be admitted thereto for the purpose of making the inspection provided for in this chapter. The enforcement officer shall thereupon proceed to make such inspection.