Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-14
Violations
Operative Text
A. Notice of violation. Whenever the Building Inspector determines that there has been a violation of any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted pursuant thereto, he shall give notice of such violation to the person or persons responsible for the violation. Such notice shall be in writing and shall be served upon the owner, agent, operator or occupant, as the case may require. This notice shall specify the alleged violation and shall provide a reasonable time for compliance. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner, agent, operator or occupant if a copy is served upon such owner, agent, operator or occupant personally or if a copy thereof is delivered by first-class mail to the last known address of such person or if a copy is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the building affected by the notice and if a copy is mailed by first-class mail. B. Failure to abate violations. In case the owner, agent, operator or occupant cannot be found within the time limit set for the abatement of said violations or if such owner, agent, operator or occupant shall fail, neglect or refuse to abate such violations, the Corporation Counsel shall be advised of all facts in the case and shall institute appropriate action in the court to compel compliance. C. Emergency action. In cases of emergency which, in the opinion of the Building Inspector, require immediate action to abate a direct hazard or imminent danger to the health, safety, morals or welfare of the occupants of a building or the public, he shall promptly cause such action to be taken as is necessary to remove or abate the hazard or danger. The Building Inspector has the power and the responsibility to vacate buildings that are found to be unfit for human habitation. D. Recovery of costs. Costs incurred under Subsections C and D of this section shall be paid out of the municipal treasury on certification of the Building Inspector. Any person issued a notice pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall be subject to an administrative fee of $75. Such costs, together with said fifty-dollar administrative fee, shall be charged against the land on which the building existed as a municipal lien or cause such cost and/or administrative fee shall be added to the tax rolls as an assessment or to be levied as a special tax against the land upon which the building stands or did stand or to be recovered in a suit at law against the owner. The administrative fee of this subsection shall be waived in the event that all occupied units of the building have valid rental certificates. E. Appearance tickets as an alternative means of commencing prosecution. (1) The City Council deems it necessary to provide by law specially authorized public servants who may issue appearance tickets pursuant to Subdivision 3 of § 150.20 of the Criminal Procedure Law and § 10, Subdivision 4[a], of the Municipal Home Rule Law of the State of New York. (2) The following public servants of the City of Schenectady are hereby authorized to issue appearance tickets in the performance of their respective duties when commencing prosecutions pursuant to this chapter, as well as Chapters 138 , Building, Plumbing and Electrical Standards, and 208 , Rat and Pest Control, of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Schenectady: the Building Inspector, Assistant Building Inspector, Code Enforcement Officers, Plumbing Inspector and Electrical Inspector; and the following City employees are designated and empowered to issue appearance tickets for violations of § 167-46 , entitled "Open areas," and § 167-49 , entitled "Garbage and refuse": Solid Waste Department Supervisors, the Recycling Coordinator, the City Nuisance Inspectors and City fire fighters and Community Police Liaison Officers and Police Community Aid Officers. (3) The power to use the appearance ticket shall not imply any restraint upon the power of the aforementioned public servants to utilize any alternative methods of commencing prosecutions as may be provided by law. (4) For purposes of this section, the term "appearance ticket" shall have the same definition as provided in Article 150, § 150.10 , of the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York, and the procedure governing its uses shall conform in all respects to the procedure as enumerated in Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law of the State of New York and other applicable articles of that law.
Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-14 establishes the process by which housing code violations are identified, communicated, and enforced. When the Building Inspector finds a violation, written notice must be served on the responsible party—by personal delivery, first-class mail, or conspicuous posting—and a reasonable time for compliance must be given. If violations are not corrected, the city may pursue court action, take emergency measures to remove hazards (including vacating unsafe buildings), and recover associated costs through municipal liens, tax assessments, or lawsuits. Responsible parties also face a $75 administrative fee, though that fee is waived if all occupied units in the building hold valid rental certificates.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 167-14, property owners and managers in Schenectady are generally expected to respond promptly to any written notice of violation issued by the Building Inspector, correcting deficiencies within the compliance window specified in the notice. Operators who maintain valid rental certificates for all occupied units in a building can avoid the $75 administrative fee that otherwise attaches to any notice issued under this chapter. When violations go unaddressed, the city is authorized to pursue court-compelled compliance, perform emergency remediation at the owner's expense, and place the resulting costs as a lien or special tax assessment against the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 167-14 gives Schenectady's Building Inspector the authority to act on housing code violations that affect occupants' health, safety, or welfare, including the power to vacate buildings deemed unfit for human habitation. Tenants who believe their building has code violations may report conditions to the Building Inspector's office, which can trigger the written-notice and enforcement process described in this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Schenectady can help residents understand how the enforcement timeline under § 167-14 may relate to other housing rights, such as habitability standards or rent-withholding options available under state law.
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 Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.