Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-87
Duties of legal officer
Operative Text
The Corporation Counsel shall, upon complaint of the chief officer or upon his own motion, institute appropriate action to restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, correct or remove violations of this code and to take such other legal action as is necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this code. The remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law and as provided in § 121-63B . Any and all remedies may be pursued concurrently or consecutively, and the pursuit of any remedy shall not be construed as an election or the waiver of the right to pursue any and all of the others.
Section 121-87 of Rensselaer's Code of Ordinances (ch. 121) establishes the role of the Corporation Counsel in enforcing the housing code. When a violation is identified — either through a complaint from the chief officer or on the Corporation Counsel's own initiative — the city's legal officer is authorized to pursue court action to stop, correct, or remove the violation. Importantly, the legal remedies available under this section are cumulative, meaning multiple remedies can be pursued at the same time or in sequence, and using one remedy does not forfeit the right to use any other.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 121-87, the Corporation Counsel has broad authority to initiate legal action against housing code violations without waiting for a formal complaint — acting on their own motion if necessary. Operators who maintain properties in compliance with ch. 121 of the Rensselaer Code of Ordinances reduce their exposure to injunctive actions, abatement orders, or other concurrent legal remedies the city may pursue. Because the provision explicitly allows remedies to be stacked and pursued simultaneously, a single unresolved violation can give rise to multiple overlapping legal proceedings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 121-87 gives tenants an important institutional ally: the Corporation Counsel of Rensselaer can take legal action to restrain or correct housing code violations either upon complaint or independently. Tenants who believe a violation of ch. 121 exists may bring it to the attention of the chief officer or relevant city officials, potentially triggering the Corporation Counsel's authority under this provision. Because § 121-87 also cross-references the remedies in § 121-63B and allows all remedies to be pursued concurrently, tenants may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization to understand the full range of enforcement tools that could apply to their situation.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation