Utica, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 2-12 § 2-12-554
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
Any person who shall knowingly and willfully violate or assist in the violation of this division or who fails to comply with a violation order issued by the Department under this division shall, upon conviction, be punished in accordance with the following schedule: (1) When ordered by the court or the Department to register, said inspections shall be completed within 30 days. Failure to have the inspection completed in 30 days shall result in the fines being imposed back to the date of failure to register. a. First offense: a fine of up to a maximum of $250 for each violation per day each violation remains unabated, or five days' imprisonment, or 50 hours of community service, or any combination thereof. b. Second offense for the same violation(s) regarding the same person and property committed within one year after the first offense: a fine of up to a maximum of $500 per day the violation remains unabated or 10 days' imprisonment, or 100 hours of community service or any combination thereof. c. Third offense for the same violation(s) regarding the same person and property committed within 18 months after the first offense: a fine of up to a maximum of $1,000 per day the violation remains unabated, or 15 days' imprisonment or 150 hours of community services or any combination thereof.
Utica, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 2-12 § 2-12-554 establishes a graduated penalty schedule for anyone who knowingly and willfully violates the city's housing inspection division or fails to comply with a Department violation order. Fines escalate from up to $250 per day for a first offense, to up to $500 per day for a second offense of the same violation within one year, and up to $1,000 per day for a third offense within 18 months of the first. Courts or the Department may also impose imprisonment or community service in lieu of or in combination with fines, and penalties can be backdated to the date a required registration was missed.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Utica, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 2-12 § 2-12-554 generally ensure that any court- or Department-ordered registration and inspection is completed within the 30-day window to avoid retroactive fines. Compliant operators address violation orders promptly, since daily fines accumulate for each day a violation remains unabated and increase significantly with each repeat offense on the same property. Keeping thorough records of inspection scheduling, completion dates, and correspondence with the Department is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating timely compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Utica, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 2-12 § 2-12-554, tenants living in properties where a landlord has received a violation order may have an interest in knowing that the city can impose escalating daily fines—and even imprisonment or community service—on owners who fail to correct cited conditions. If a property appears to remain out of compliance after a violation order has been issued, tenants can contact the Utica Department responsible for housing inspections to inquire about the status of open violations. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand how outstanding violation orders may be relevant to their housing situation.
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 7, 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
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.