Owego, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 55 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 55-8
Administration; enforcement; penalties for offenses
Operative Text
A. Authority and responsibility. The authority and responsibility for publicizing, administering, and enforcing this chapter shall be in the Town's Fair Housing Officer, to be designated by the Supervisor of the Town of Owego. B. Violations. Failure to comply with this chapter shall be a violation and shall be reported, in person or in writing, to the Town's Fair Housing Officer within a year of the alleged discriminatory housing practice. C. Enforcement. Where sufficient cause exists to believe that the terms of this chapter have been violated, the Fair Housing Officer shall institute a proceeding in Town Justice Court against the alleged violator within 100 days following the issuance of the charge. D. Penalties. Where a person or organization has been found guilty of a violation of this chapter, a civil penalty shall be imposed on such person or organization not to exceed $1,000. Each and every separate violation of this chapter shall be deemed an offense for the purposes of imposing the appropriate civil penalty.
Section 55-8 of Owego's Code of Ordinances establishes the administrative and enforcement framework for the town's fair housing rules. Complaints about discriminatory housing practices must be reported to the Town's Fair Housing Officer within one year of the alleged incident, and once a charge is issued, the Fair Housing Officer has 100 days to bring a proceeding in Town Justice Court. If a person or organization is found guilty, a civil penalty of up to $1,000 may be imposed for each separate violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 55-8 of Owego's Code of Ordinances, property owners and managers operating in the Town of Owego are expected to maintain practices that comply with the town's fair housing chapter at all times. Operators who receive notice of a complaint should be aware that the Fair Housing Officer is authorized to initiate court proceedings within 100 days of a charge being issued. Each distinct act found to violate the chapter can be treated as a separate offense, meaning civil penalties of up to $1,000 may accumulate across multiple violations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 55-8 of Owego's Code of Ordinances gives residents who believe they have experienced a discriminatory housing practice the ability to report that concern—either in person or in writing—to the Town's Fair Housing Officer within one year of the alleged incident. Once a report is filed and sufficient cause is found, the Fair Housing Officer is responsible for pursuing enforcement through Town Justice Court. Tenants who believe their fair housing rights have been affected may also wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the full range of options available under this provision.
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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