Oswego, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-74
Board of Appeals
Operative Text
A. Establishment. The Mayor of the City of Oswego shall appoint a five man Board of Appeals. The members of this Board shall not hold elective office in the City of Oswego and they shall receive no compensation for their services. B. Term of office. The Mayor shall designate the term of two of the members as being two years from the date of appointment; the term of two members to be three years from the date of appointment; and the term of the fifth member to be four years from the date of appointment. Each successor to the original membership shall be appointed by the Mayor for a term of three years, except that any vacancy occurring during any term shall be filled for the unexpired term only. The Board shall hold a reorganization meeting yearly and shall elect one of their members to be Chairman and one Secretary. C. Capitals, powers and duties. (1) The Board shall hear and decide appeals from any order, requirement, decision or determination of the Housing Administrator. (2) The Board shall decide any question involving the interpretation of any provision of this chapter. (3) The Board shall decide any matter referred to it by the City Engineer, who is designated as the Housing Administrator. D. In exercising the above-mentioned powers and duties, the Board of Appeals may reverse, affirm, wholly or partly, or may modify the order, requirements, decision or determination as made and, to that end, have all the powers of the Housing Administrator from whom the appeal is made. E. Every decision of the Board of Appeals shall be subject to review in accordance with Article 78 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules, and such decision may be so appealed by any person aggrieved or by any officer, department, board or bureau of the city. F. Any appeal from the decision of the Housing Administrator, properly filed with the Board of Appeals, shall stay all proceedings in furtherance of the action appealed from, unless the Housing Administrator certifies to the Board of Appeals that, by reason of facts stated in the certification, a stay would, in his opinion, cause eminent peril to life and property.
Section 149-74 of Oswego's Code of Ordinances establishes a five-member Board of Appeals, appointed by the Mayor, to serve as an independent review body for housing-related decisions made by the Housing Administrator (the City Engineer). The Board has authority to hear appeals, interpret provisions of Chapter 149, and affirm, reverse, or modify any order or determination it reviews. Decisions of the Board are themselves subject to further judicial review under Article 78 of New York's Civil Practice Law and Rules, and filing a proper appeal generally pauses enforcement of the challenged action unless the Housing Administrator certifies an imminent danger to life or property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to orders or determinations issued by Oswego's Housing Administrator under Chapter 149 should be aware that § 149-74 provides a formal appeal pathway to the Board of Appeals. A compliant operator who disagrees with an administrative decision typically documents the basis for the appeal and files it properly with the Board, which can trigger an automatic stay of enforcement proceedings in most circumstances. If the Board's decision is also unfavorable, operators should note that further review is available through an Article 78 proceeding in court.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 149-74, tenants who are affected by a Housing Administrator decision in Oswego have the right to appeal that decision to the Board of Appeals, which can reverse, modify, or uphold the original determination. Tenants may also raise the Board's interpretive authority over Chapter 149 provisions when a dispute involves how a rule applies to their situation. If the Board's ruling is unsatisfactory, any aggrieved person—including a tenant—may seek further review through an Article 78 proceeding; tenant-rights organizations can help explain what that process generally involves.
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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