Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-14
Administrative agency
Operative Text
A. The Building Department shall be designated to administer and secure compliance with this chapter. Said office is hereinafter referred to as "the agency." B. The agency shall be under the direction and charge of the Building Department, which shall have as its representatives such assistants and inspectors as may be necessary to carry out effectively the powers and duties of the agency. C. All personnel of the agency shall be furnished with appropriate official badges or identification cards. D. All personnel of the agency shall be free from personal liability for acts done in good faith in the performance of their official duties. E. The agency shall be charged with the duty of administering this chapter and securing compliance therewith. F. Where violations of Chapter 127 , Building Construction and Fire Prevention, exist and pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare of building occupants or of the public, the Inspector of Buildings, or his or her designee, or Code Enforcement Officer may issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such municipal agency as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate hazard or danger. G. Inspectors shall be authorized and have the right, in the performance of their duties, to enter any premises in a bona fide emergency to protect the public interests and safety. H. Owners, agents, operators and occupants shall be responsible for providing access to all parts of the premises within their control to authorized agency personnel acting in the performance of their duties, except that the owner, agent, or person in charge thereof shall have the right to insist upon the procurement for a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction by the Inspector of Buildings, or his or her designee, or Code Enforcement Officer, in order to enable such inspection. (1) It shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent, or operator, except where an occupant has requested an inspection, then it shall be the responsibility of the occupant, to have a person of suitable age and discretion present, except in cases of emergency or where a search warrant has been secured, during an inspection of a dwelling. (2) In cases where an inspection is conducted on an occupied dwelling unit, it shall be the responsibility of the owner, agent, or operator, except where an occupant has requested an inspection, then it shall be the responsibility of the occupant, to remove furniture, debris, or any other barriers, to the extent practicable, away from walls, openings, outlets, and any other place that might be blocked so as to provide necessary access to the Code Enforcement Officer to conduct a thorough inspection. I. The agency shall keep records of all complaints received, inspections made and violations found regarding premises regulated by this chapter. Such records shall be available for public inspection.
Section 176-14 of Watervliet's Code of Ordinances designates the Building Department as the administrative agency responsible for enforcing the city's housing regulations. The provision outlines the agency's structure, including its use of inspectors and assistants, and establishes rules for how inspections are conducted—including rights of entry in emergencies, the requirement that access be provided to inspectors, and the right of property owners to demand a search warrant before a non-emergency inspection. All complaints, inspections, and violations are recorded and made available for public review.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 176-14, property owners and their agents are required to provide authorized Building Department personnel with access to all parts of the premises during inspections. Compliant operators generally ensure that a responsible adult is present during scheduled inspections and that furniture, debris, or other obstructions are cleared away from walls, outlets, and other areas to allow thorough inspection. Owners retain the right under this section to require the Inspector of Buildings or a Code Enforcement Officer to obtain a search warrant before a non-emergency inspection proceeds.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 176-14 establishes that the Watervliet Building Department maintains records of all complaints, inspections, and violations, and those records are open to public inspection. Tenants who request an inspection take on the responsibility of having a suitable adult present and clearing access to relevant areas of the unit during that inspection. Tenants who believe a housing violation exists may contact the Building Department directly, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain how the complaint and inspection process under this chapter typically works.
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
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