Oneida, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 53 § 53-6
Complaints
Operative Text
A. Any person aggrieved in any manner by a violation of any provision of this chapter may file a written complaint with the Fair Housing Officer or his designee. The complaint shall be addressed to the Fair Housing Officer and shall state: (1) The name and address of the complainant; (2) The name and address of the person or persons against whom the complainant is brought, if known to the complainant; (3) The address of the property involved; (4) The name and address of all persons believed to have knowledge concerning the alleged violation; (5) The facts surrounding the alleged violation of this chapter; and (6) Such other information as may be required by the Fair Housing Officer. B. The Fair Housing Officer shall provide a printed form of complaint for the use of aggrieved persons. No fee shall be charged for the filing of the complaint. Any complaint shall be barred from consideration unless it is filed with the Fair Housing Officer or his designee within six months after the alleged discriminatory practice has occurred. The Fair Housing Officer may end the time for filing the complaint for an additional 60 days when conciliation efforts are pending. C. The Fair Housing Officer shall furnish a copy of the complaint, to the person or persons against whom the complaint is brought, in person or by certified mail within five business days of receipt of the complaint from the complainant. The Fair Housing Officer shall investigate the complaint and determine whether or not, in his opinion, probable cause exists for believing that the allegations made in the complaint are true. If, after such investigation, the Fair Housing Officer determines that probable cause does not exist to believe that the allegations made in the complaint are true, he shall dismiss the complaint and shall so notify the complainant and all other parties interested. If, after such investigation, the Fair Housing Officer determines that probable cause does exist to believe that the allegations made in the complaint are true, he shall set a date for a conference and notify the parties of the time and place thereof; at such conference, the Fair Housing Officer shall interview the complainant and the person or persons against whom the complaint has been directed and shall attempt to resolve the complaint by conciliation. D. The Fair Housing Officer is authorized to hold closed meetings for conciliation of complaints of discrimination brought pursuant to this chapter. Nothing said or done in the course of such meetings shall be made public by the Fair Housing Officer, the complainant or by any other party to the proceedings without the written consent of all persons concerned. E. If the Fair Housing Officer has been unable to secure voluntary compliance, and if he has made a determination of the probable occurrence of one or more of the prohibited acts as hereinabove defined, the Fair Housing Officer may request the City Attorney to institute and maintain an action provided for below. The City Attorney shall, within 30 days of such request, make a determination as to whether to proceed with such action. If the City Attorney determines to proceed, he shall institute an action in a court of competent jurisdiction within 30 days after such determination.
Section 53-6 of Oneida's Code of Ordinances establishes the process for filing and resolving fair housing complaints within the city. Anyone who believes they have been harmed by a violation of Chapter 53 may submit a written complaint to the Fair Housing Officer at no cost, provided the complaint is filed within six months of the alleged discriminatory act. The Fair Housing Officer investigates each complaint, attempts to resolve it through confidential conciliation, and—if voluntary compliance cannot be achieved—may refer the matter to the City Attorney for potential court action.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 53-6, a property owner or manager named in a fair housing complaint will receive a copy of that complaint, delivered in person or by certified mail, within five business days of its filing. Compliant operators generally cooperate with the Fair Housing Officer's investigation and participate in any scheduled conciliation conference in good faith. If conciliation fails and the City Attorney determines to proceed, the matter can be brought before a court of competent jurisdiction, making early engagement with the process an important operational consideration.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 53-6 gives anyone aggrieved by a potential fair housing violation in Oneida the right to file a written complaint with the Fair Housing Officer at no charge, using a printed form the Officer is required to provide. The complaint must be filed within six months of the alleged discriminatory act, though that window may be extended by up to 60 days when conciliation efforts are underway. If the investigation finds probable cause and conciliation does not resolve the matter, § 53-6 allows the case to be escalated to the City Attorney for court action; tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of options 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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