Suffern, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 162 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 162-7
Structural and plumbing soundness; egress
Operative Text
A. Structural soundness. (1) Members. Every foundation, door, outer wall, ceiling and roof shall be weathertight, watertight and rodentproof, shall be capable of affording privacy and shall be kept in good repair. (2) Openings. Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway or stairway shall be weathertight, watertight and rodentproof and shall be kept in good working condition and repair. (3) Stairs and porches. Every inside and outside stair and handrail and every porch and porch rail shall be so constructed as to safely support the maximum load that normal use may require and shall be kept in safe condition and good repair at all times. The Housing Inspector may require a handrail for each stair if deemed necessary. B. Mechanical soundness of plumbing. All plumbing shall be properly installed and maintained in sanitary condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions. C. Safe egress for dwellings. Every dwelling unit shall have at least one unobstructed means of ingress and egress leading to safe open space at ground level and to a public street or alley. Where there is more than one dwelling unit on a second story or where there are more than two stories, a minimum of two approved exitways shall be provided for every occupied story above or below the first story; except, however, that a second story may be served by a single stairway if such stairway is enclosed by one-hour fire-resistant materials where such second story does not exceed 2,400 square feet in floor area and the distance from the dwelling units to the stairway is less than 50 feet.
Section 162-7 of Suffern's Code of Ordinances requires that residential buildings maintain structurally sound and weather-resistant foundations, walls, roofs, windows, and doors, while keeping all stairs, handrails, and porches capable of safely bearing normal loads. All plumbing must be properly installed and kept in sanitary, leak-free condition. Every dwelling unit must have at least one clear path of entry and exit to open ground-level space and a public street, with additional approved exitways required for multi-unit or multi-story buildings above certain thresholds.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties in Suffern are generally expected to conduct regular inspections of all structural components covered under § 162-7, including foundations, exterior walls, roofs, windows, doors, stairs, and handrails, ensuring each remains weathertight, rodentproof, and in good repair. Plumbing systems must be maintained in a sanitary, defect-free, and unobstructed state at all times. Compliant operators also verify that every dwelling unit has a clear, unobstructed means of egress to ground-level open space, and that buildings with multiple upper-story units or more than two stories provide the minimum number of approved exitways required by § 162-7(C).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 162-7, tenants in Suffern have a right to occupy a dwelling with structurally sound walls, roofs, windows, and doors that are weathertight and rodentproof, properly functioning plumbing, and at least one unobstructed path of egress to a public street. If any of these conditions are not being met, tenants may consider documenting the deficiencies and reporting them to the Suffern Housing Inspector, who has authority to enforce this provision. Tenant-rights organizations can also provide general information about available remedies, including how a landlord's failure to comply with § 162-7 may be raised in relevant housing proceedings.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation