Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-159
Definitions
Operative Text
For purpose of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings: Dwelling unit shall mean a detached or semi-detached single family home, a townhouse, or any individual unit in two- or three-family dwelling (whether detached or attached to other buildings or structures) that is designed, or intended for occupancy, as a residence. Covered dwelling unit shall mean any new dwelling unit designed, constructed, or commissioned, contracted or otherwise arranged for design or construction by any person or entity who, at any time during the commissioning, design, or construction, received or will receive community development block grants (CDBG) and other funds that require that visitable standards be met. Visitable design shall mean a dwelling unit is designed and constructed to include features such as a step-free entrance, wide doorways and hallways, clear access to an accessible toilet, and others, in order to permit people with physical disabilities and the elderly, who use wheelchairs, walkers, and other assistive devices to visit and live in the dwelling unit.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 11 § 27-159 establishes the foundational definitions that govern the visitability requirements in this article. It distinguishes between a general 'dwelling unit'—covering detached or semi-detached single-family homes, townhouses, and units in two- or three-family dwellings—and a 'covered dwelling unit,' which is one whose design or construction involved the receipt of community development block grants (CDBG) or other funds tied to visitable standards. 'Visitable design' is defined as incorporating features like step-free entrances, wide doorways and hallways, and accessible toilet access so that people with physical disabilities or the elderly using mobility aids can both visit and reside in the unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 11 § 27-159, property owners and developers who receive CDBG funds or other qualifying public funding at any point during commissioning, design, or construction are working with a 'covered dwelling unit' subject to visitable design standards. Compliant operators generally track whether any public funding tied to visitability requirements was accepted at any stage of a project, since the definition applies even if funds are received after design begins. Understanding which properties fall under the 'covered dwelling unit' definition is a key step in determining whether the broader visitability requirements of this article apply to a given project.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 11 § 27-159 sets out the definitions that determine whether a residence qualifies as a 'covered dwelling unit' entitled to visitable design features such as step-free entrances and accessible doorways. Tenants in units built with CDBG or similar public funding may have grounds to raise the applicability of these definitions if accessibility features described under 'visitable design' are absent. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing agencies familiar with Syracuse's ordinance can help residents understand whether their unit meets the definition of a covered dwelling unit and what options may be available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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