Suffern, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 162 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 162-13
Housing Board of Review
Operative Text
A. A Housing Board of Review is hereby created to conduct the hearings authorized by this chapter. Such Housing Board shall consist of five members to be appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Trustees for overlapping terms of three years each, except that the members of the first Board shall be appointed two for one year, two for two years and one for three years, respectively. Each member of the Board shall serve until a successor is appointed. All members of the Board shall be citizens of the United States and residents of the Village of Suffern. B. The Housing Board of Review shall: (1) Adopt rules of procedure not inconsistent with this chapter, elect its own officers and keep a record of all proceedings, including the vote of each member on each case heard. No member of the Board shall take part in any hearing or determination in which he has, directly or indirectly, any personal or financial interest. Three members of the Board in attendance at any meeting shall constitute a quorum. (2) Interpret the intent of this chapter in specific cases where, upon appeal, it clearly appears that, by reason of special conditions, undue hardship would result from the literal application of any section of this chapter. Where such undue hardship is clearly demonstrated, the Board may permit a variance from the applicable section, provided that the dwelling will vary only a reasonable minimum from the literal provision of this chapter and will comply generally with the spirit and intent of the regulations as to sanitation, safety and rehabilitation. Any such variance shall be permitted only by the concurring vote of at least three members of the Board.
Section 162-13 of Suffern's Code of Ordinances establishes a Housing Board of Review, a five-member body appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Board of Trustees, to conduct hearings under Chapter 162. The Board is empowered to adopt its own procedural rules, maintain records of all proceedings, and hear appeals in which a property owner or resident claims that strict application of the chapter's housing standards would create an undue hardship due to special conditions. When such hardship is clearly demonstrated, the Board may grant a variance allowing a dwelling to deviate minimally from the chapter's literal requirements, provided the variance still honors the chapter's overall goals of sanitation, safety, and rehabilitation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 162-13, property owners who believe that a literal application of Chapter 162 would impose an undue hardship on their specific property due to special conditions have a formal avenue for relief through the Housing Board of Review. A compliant operator generally documents the special conditions thoroughly before seeking an appeal, since the Board requires clear demonstration of hardship before granting any variance. Operators who receive a variance should note that it permits only a reasonable minimum deviation from the chapter's standards and does not waive the underlying goals of sanitation, safety, and rehabilitation.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 162-13 creates the Housing Board of Review as the body responsible for conducting hearings and interpreting Chapter 162 in cases where special conditions are alleged. Tenants should be aware that any variance granted under this provision must still comply generally with the chapter's intent regarding sanitation, safety, and rehabilitation, meaning a landlord cannot use a hardship variance to sidestep core habitability standards. Tenants who believe a variance has been improperly granted, or who wish to participate in a Board hearing, may consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the Board's publicly kept records of proceedings and member votes as provided under § 162-13.
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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