Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-38
Agency to abate hazards in emergencies
Operative Text
Whenever any violation of this Chapter which, in the opinion of the head of the Code Enforcement Agency, causes a direct hazard or immediate danger to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the occupants of a building or the public, has not been corrected in the time specified by the order issued under Section 12-37 , the head of the Code Enforcement Agency may take such direct action as is necessary to abate the hazard or danger. Expenses incurred in the execution of such orders shall be recovered as provided in Section 12-69 .
Section 12-38 of Poughkeepsie's Code of Ordinances (ch. 12) authorizes the head of the Code Enforcement Agency to step in and directly remedy a code violation when that violation poses an immediate hazard to occupants or the public and the responsible party has not corrected it within the deadline set by a prior order under Section 12-37. The agency can take whatever direct action is necessary to eliminate the danger. Any costs the agency incurs in doing so can be recovered through the mechanism established in Section 12-69.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Poughkeepsie Code ch. 12 § 12-38, property owners who receive a correction order under Section 12-37 and fail to remedy a hazardous violation within the specified timeframe risk having the Code Enforcement Agency step in and perform the corrective work itself. Compliant operators generally treat emergency-level violations as the highest priority, ensuring repairs are completed before the order deadline to avoid agency intervention. Costs incurred by the agency in abating the hazard are recoverable against the property owner under Section 12-69, which can result in financial liability beyond the cost of the original repair.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-38 of Poughkeepsie's Code of Ordinances gives tenants an important backstop: if a landlord ignores a code-enforcement order addressing an immediate health or safety hazard, the head of the Code Enforcement Agency has authority to act directly to eliminate that danger. Tenants who believe a hazardous condition has not been corrected after an order was issued may contact the Poughkeepsie Code Enforcement Agency to report the ongoing violation and inquire about emergency abatement. Consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help tenants understand what documentation to gather and what options may be 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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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