Rental Property Rules in Syracuse, NY

If you live in Syracuse or are thinking about moving there, rental property rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Syracuse has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of rental property rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Source-of-Income Discrimination

Syracuse landlords cannot refuse to rent to, or otherwise discriminate against, an applicant or tenant because of a lawful source of income, including Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, Social Security, SSI, pensions, child support, or veteran's benefits. The city's Fair Practices Law, Chapter 8, added this protection through a 2016 amendment.

Key details: Protected class: lawful source of income. Covers: Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers. Added by: Local Law No. 7-2016 (Nov. 7, 2016). Exemption: owner-occupied 2-family building. Filing deadline: 1 year (Sec. 8-6).

A tenant or applicant turned away because of a Section 8 voucher or other lawful source of income can sue in 'any court of appropriate jurisdiction' under Section 8-7 for compensatory damages, a cease-and-desist order, and 'reasonable attorneys' fees to be fixed by the court.' Section 8-6 requires that action be filed within one year of the discriminatory act. The city has no administrative fine schedule for this ordinance; enforcement runs entirely through this private civil right of action.

This is one of the stricter rules in Syracuse's municipal code. If you are unsure whether your situation complies, it is worth checking with the city before proceeding.

Rental Registration

Syracuse landlords must obtain a rental registry certificate for every non-owner-occupied one- and two-family dwelling they rent or lease. The certificate costs $150 per dwelling, expires after three years, and requires passing interior and exterior code inspections through the Division of Code Enforcement.

Key details: Fee: $150 per dwelling. Certificate term: Expires after three years. Applies to: 1–2 family non-owner-occupied. Enforcer: Division of Code Enforcement. Inspection: Interior and exterior required.

Renting a non-owner-occupied one- or two-family dwelling without a certificate violates § 27-131(d). During noncompliance no rent is collectable (§ 27-147), and tenant nonpayment for that period cannot be used as grounds for eviction.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Syracuse actively enforces its rental registration requirements.

Relocation Assistance

Syracuse's Residential Antidisplacement and Relocation Assistance Plan requires the city to replace low- and moderate-income housing lost to federally assisted demolition or conversion projects and lets the city pay relocation costs to households displaced by that work, plus a separate payment schedule for households displaced by code enforcement actions outside federal funding.

Key details: Governing sections: Rev. Gen. Ord. §§ 1-8, 1-8.1. Replacement housing deadline: 3 years from demolition/conversion. Affordability period: 10 years from first occupancy. Assistance denied if: household caused the violation. Non-federal displacement: covered by § 1-8.1 payment schedule.

This is a benefits program, not a fine schedule. The city denies relocation assistance outright if the displacement traces to conditions or code violations a household member caused, or if another agency's relocation payment already covers the same costs. Disputes over eligibility or payment amounts run through the department of community development, which administers the plan, while the separate code-enforcement payment schedule under § 1-8.1 requires board of estimate approval before it can be used.

The rules around relocation assistance in Syracuse lean permissive, but that does not mean anything goes.

Repairs & Habitability

Syracuse's Property Conservation Code requires landlords to keep habitable rooms, bathrooms and kitchens at 68°F, measured five feet above the floor, from September 15 through May 31 whenever the outdoor temperature drops below 55°F. The Division of Code Enforcement investigates complaints and can pursue criminal fines, civil penalties up to $500 a day, or a court-appointed receiver for units unfit for human habitation.

Key details: Minimum heat: 68°F, five feet above the floor. Heating season: September 15 through May 31. Hot water minimum: 110°F at 2.5 gpm to every fixture. Enforcing agency: Division of Code Enforcement. Civil penalty: $100/day; $500/day if serious.

A notice of violation sets a correction deadline; missing it triggers a civil penalty of $100 per day for an ordinary violation or $500 per day for a violation designated serious, collectible by the corporation counsel against the owner or the property itself under Section 27-120(b). Knowing and willful violations are also criminal offenses punishable by a fine of $10 to $150 or up to 15 days in jail per offense under Section 27-120(a), with each additional day of noncompliance a separate offense.

The Bottom Line

Syracuse is tougher than many cities when it comes to rental property rules. Out of the 4 rules covered here, 2 are rated strict. If you are a homeowner, renter, or business owner in Syracuse, take the time to understand these requirements before they become a problem. Most violations come with fines, and some repeat violations can escalate.

All of the above reflects Syracuse's municipal code as of our last review. If you need specifics on fines, exemptions, or filing requirements, the detailed ordinance pages linked above have the full breakdown.