Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-15
Inspections; positions of certificate
Operative Text
A. Inspection procedures. A certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance may only be obtained after an inspection of the dwelling, including all dwelling units, by the Code Enforcement Official or his or her deputies. Either a certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance or a notice of violation shall be issued within 15 days after the date of such inspection. (1) If violations are found during the inspection, such violations shall be corrected, or the dwelling unit vacated, within a period of time ranging from 10 days to six months, depending on the severity of the violation and the physical requirements necessary to remedy such violations, as determined by the Code Enforcement Official. (2) A reinspection may be conducted at any time during the period of the certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance, with a minimum of 10 days' notice to the owner or his agent, if a signed complaint of noncompliance is received from a person or persons renting a dwelling unit, or upon less notice if deemed necessary by the Code Enforcement Official in case of emergency. Such reinspection shall have the same force as the original inspection. (3) An owner's refusal to permit inspection of a tenant's rental unit shall be admissible as evidence of a breach of the warranty of habitability in any action by the landlord for remedy under the lease or to recover real property in a special proceeding under the provisions of the New York Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law . B. Posting of certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance. The certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance issued pursuant to this article shall be posted in a conspicuous place in the dwelling upon its issuance. The certificate shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of issuance unless a reinspection discloses violations. Upon correction of the violations, the certificate shall then be valid for the remainder of the original period of issuance.
Under Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-15, residential dwellings must be inspected by the Code Enforcement Official before a certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance can be issued. Following an inspection, either a compliance certificate or a notice of violation must be issued within 15 days. If violations are found, they must be corrected—or the unit vacated—within a timeframe of 10 days to six months based on severity, and the resulting certificate, once issued, must be posted conspicuously in the dwelling and remains valid for three years unless a reinspection uncovers new violations.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners operating under ch. 177 § 177-15 generally ensure that all dwelling units are made accessible for inspection by the Code Enforcement Official and that any cited violations are remediated within the timeframe the Official assigns. Compliant operators post the certificate of inspection and maintenance compliance in a conspicuous location immediately upon receipt and track the three-year validity window to stay current. Notably, refusing to permit inspection of a tenant's unit can be introduced as evidence of a breach of the warranty of habitability in eviction or lease-enforcement proceedings under New York Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 177-15, tenants have the right to file a signed complaint of noncompliance, which can trigger a reinspection of their dwelling unit with at least 10 days' notice to the owner—or sooner in an emergency as determined by the Code Enforcement Official. If a landlord refuses to allow inspection of a rental unit, that refusal may be raised as evidence of a breach of the warranty of habitability in any court proceeding the landlord brings to enforce the lease or recover possession of the property. Tenants who believe their unit is out of compliance may consider contacting the Watertown Code Enforcement office, a local tenant-rights organization, or legal aid for general information about their options under this provision.
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.
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