Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 114 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 114-3
Duties of owners and occupants
Operative Text
A. In furtherance of the purposes of this chapter, it shall be the duty and responsibility of the owner or the occupant of premises to comply with any or all of the requirements and standards of this chapter to keep the premises free of conditions which constitute violations hereof and to promptly remove, prevent or abate such conditions. B. Owners and occupants shall have all the duties, obligations and responsibilities prescribed in this chapter, and no such person or entity shall be relieved of any duty, obligation or responsibility hereunder nor be entitled to assert, as a defense against any charge made against him/her or them for violation of this chapter, the fact that another owner, operator or occupant or any other third person or entity is also responsible therefor and in violation thereof.
Section 114-3 of Wappingers Falls Code Chapter 114 establishes that both property owners and occupants share responsibility for keeping premises free of code violations. Each party is independently obligated to remove, prevent, or correct any violating conditions promptly. Importantly, the rule closes a common loophole: no owner or occupant can escape liability simply by pointing to another party who is also responsible for the same violation.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 114-3, property owners and managers are expected to actively monitor their premises for conditions that violate Chapter 114 and to address those conditions promptly rather than waiting for a complaint. A compliant operator generally maintains records of inspections and remediation efforts to demonstrate ongoing attention to code standards. Critically, an owner cannot successfully defend against a violation charge solely by arguing that a tenant or another third party shares responsibility for the same condition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 114-3 makes clear that occupants, not just owners, carry independent duties to keep their dwelling free of Chapter 114 violations, which means tenants may also be held accountable for conditions they create or control. At the same time, the provision's shared-responsibility framework means that an owner cannot deflect enforcement by blaming a tenant when the owner is also in violation. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet their obligations under Chapter 114 may consider contacting the Wappingers Falls code enforcement office or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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