Port Jefferson, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 161 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 161-39
Records; searches
Operative Text
All records of the Building Department shall be public. Upon request, the Department shall make a search and issue a certificate of any of its records, including violations or the absence of any violations, upon payment of sixty cents for each page thereof.
Under Port Jefferson Code § 161-39, all records held by the Building Department are designated as public records. Any person may request a search of those records, and the Department is required to issue a certificate reflecting what the records show — including whether violations exist or do not exist — in exchange for a fee of sixty cents per page. This provision establishes both the public nature of the records and the mechanism for obtaining official documentation of their contents.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Port Jefferson should be aware that Building Department records, including any violations associated with a property, are publicly accessible under § 161-39. A compliant operator generally keeps track of any open or resolved violations, knowing that prospective tenants, buyers, or inspectors can request an official certificate of those records at any time. Obtaining a certificate proactively — at sixty cents per page — can help an operator confirm the documented status of a property before a transaction or tenancy begins.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 161-39 of the Port Jefferson Code gives members of the public the right to request a search of Building Department records for any property, including a search for existing violations or confirmation that none are on file. Tenants can use this provision to obtain an official certificate documenting the violation history of a rental unit by submitting a request to the Building Department and paying the per-page fee of sixty cents. Tenant-rights organizations can help explain how this type of record may be relevant to housing conditions or other concerns about a rental property.
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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