Sea Cliff, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 78 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 78-9
Responsibilities
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that the provisions of this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility. B. Any person in actual possession of or having charge, care or control of any property within the Village shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of said property within the true intent and meaning of this chapter and shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the same extent as the record owner. Notice to or service upon any such person shall be deemed and taken to be good and sufficient notice or service upon such person and upon the owner as if such person were actually the record owner or owners of such property. C. If it shall be determined by the Village Justice that an occupant of residential property who is not the owner of the property is not responsible, individually or jointly, for the existence of one or more violations of the provisions of this chapter, the Village Justice may dismiss such violations as are against said occupant. Any such dismissal shall in no way affect the responsibility or liability of the owner or any other person causing such violation or violations.
Sea Cliff, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 78 § 78-9 establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for complying with Chapter 78, regardless of any private agreements that might shift that duty to an operator or occupant. Anyone who actually possesses, controls, or manages a property is treated as an owner for purposes of the chapter and is equally bound by its requirements. A Village Justice may dismiss violations against a residential occupant who is found not personally responsible, but that dismissal does not relieve the owner or any other responsible party of liability.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under ch. 78 § 78-9, compliant property owners and managers recognize that private lease clauses or management agreements do not transfer their legal obligation to meet Chapter 78 standards — the owner remains on the hook even if a tenant or operator agreed to handle certain duties. Operators who exercise day-to-day control over a property are treated as owners for compliance purposes, so property managers generally ensure that all Chapter 78 requirements are met directly rather than relying solely on occupant compliance. Receiving proper notice under this section is considered effective service on the record owner, so owners and their agents typically maintain current contact information with the Village.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 78-9 of Sea Cliff's Code of Ordinances ch. 78 provides a meaningful protection for residential occupants: a Village Justice has the authority to dismiss Chapter 78 violations against a tenant who is found not individually or jointly responsible for the violation. This means tenants who did not cause or control a code condition may have a path to contest violations brought against them before the Village Justice. Tenants who believe they have been improperly cited under Chapter 78 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource to understand how this dismissal provision might apply to their circumstances.
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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