Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-31
General requirements
Operative Text
(a) Buildings and parts thereof shall be maintained so as to be capable of sustaining safely their own weight and the loads to which they may be subject. (b) Buildings shall be maintained so that loads are transmitted to the soil without undue differential settlement, unsafe deformation or movement of the building or any structural part. (c) Buildings shall be maintained so that protection is provided for all structural members which may become structurally unsound if left unprotected. Causes of such deterioration include, among others, action of freezing and thawing, dampness, corrosion, wetting and drying, and termites or other destructive insects. (d) Buildings built in soil which is water bearing at any season of the year shall be maintained so that ground and surface water will not penetrate into habitable spaces.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 4 § 27-31 establishes baseline structural and environmental maintenance standards for all buildings. Structures must be able to bear their own weight and imposed loads safely, transmit those loads to the ground without harmful settling or movement, and protect structural members from deterioration caused by moisture, temperature cycles, corrosion, and insects. Buildings situated in seasonally water-bearing soil must also be kept free of ground and surface water intrusion into any space used for human habitation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 4 § 27-31, compliant property operators routinely inspect structural components for signs of load-bearing compromise, uneven settlement, and deterioration from moisture, frost, corrosion, or pest activity. Protective treatments, drainage systems, and waterproofing measures are generally maintained to prevent conditions that could render structural members unsound or allow water to enter habitable areas. Operators with properties on seasonally wet soils typically give particular attention to foundation drainage and below-grade waterproofing as part of ongoing maintenance programs.
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. 4 § 27-31 gives tenants a basis to raise concerns when a building shows signs of structural failure, excessive settling, deteriorating structural members, or water intrusion into living spaces. Tenants who observe such conditions may document them in writing and report them to the City of Syracuse's code enforcement office, which has authority to inspect and require corrective action. Tenant-rights organizations in the Syracuse area can also help residents understand how this provision may apply to conditions in their building.
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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