Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-54
Infestation and screening
Operative Text
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform with generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements and cellars shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. From the first day of May to the first day of October, entrances to residential buildings shall be provided with self-closing type devices or screens, and windows and other openings used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened. Screens shall not be required in rooms located sufficiently high in the upper stories of multiple dwellings as to be free of mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects.
Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 175 § 175-54 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, with extermination methods following generally accepted practices. Basement and cellar openings must be screened with wire mesh or similar materials wherever rodent or vermin infestation is a risk. Between May 1 and October 1, residential building entrances must have self-closing devices or screens, and ventilation openings must be screened, though upper-story rooms in multi-family dwellings that are naturally free of flying insects are exempt from the screening requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential properties in Watervliet are generally expected to maintain their buildings in compliance with § 175-54 by conducting regular inspections for signs of insect, vermin, and rodent activity and using accepted extermination methods when infestations are found. Compliant operators typically ensure that basement and cellar openings are fitted with wire mesh or equivalent screening wherever infestation risk exists. During the May 1–October 1 season, property managers commonly verify that building entrances have functioning self-closing devices or screens and that ventilation openings are properly screened, while documenting any upper-story units that qualify for the flying-insect exemption.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 175-54 of the Watervliet Code of Ordinances, tenants have an interest in living in premises that are free from insect, vermin, and rodent infestation, with properly screened openings and self-closing entrance devices in place during the warm-weather season. Tenants who observe conditions that appear to violate these requirements—such as unscreened basement windows, missing door screens, or evidence of active infestation—may consider documenting those conditions in writing and notifying their landlord. If the issue is not addressed, tenants can explore filing a complaint with the appropriate local code enforcement office in Watervliet or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for guidance on 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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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