Albany, NY Building Safety: Building Inspections (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- City Code § 151-102
- Inspector license fee
- $75 application + $250/year
- Owner certificate fee
- $50 per year
- Max penalty
- $1,500 fine or 15 days jail
- Added
- 2009 by Ord. No. 65.101.08
Summary
Albany requires annual fire-safety and property-maintenance inspections for every building with a public assembly space, performed only by inspectors the city has licensed under City Code Chapter 151, Article VII.
It is mandated by the State of New York Department of State that there shall be fire safety and property maintenance inspections of buildings which contain an area of public assembly. An "area of public assembly" is defined under Title 19 of the Codes, Rules and Regulations of the State of New York (NYCRR), Section 1203.3(h), and also by the 2007 Building Code of New York State, Section 303.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4873446; v61 updated 2026-03-18; through 03-18-2026).
Full Breakdown
City Code § 151-102 mandates fire-safety and property-maintenance inspections of every building containing an area of public assembly, as defined by 19 NYCRR § 1203.3(h) and the 2007 Building Code of New York State § 303. Only inspectors licensed by the Administrator (the Chief of Fire, Emergency and Building Services) under § 151-104 may perform the work; a license costs a $75 application fee plus $250 a year, per § 151-107. Building owners separately pay a $50 annual certificate fee, inspections run on the State Department of State's schedule, and the resulting certificate must stay posted in the inspected area under § 151-112.
Violations & Fines
Any inspector or building owner who violates the article can be fined up to $1,500, jailed up to 15 days, or both, under § 151-116; the Administrator can also suspend or revoke an inspector's license after a hearing under § 151-108.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Albany buildings must be inspected under this rule?
Can a building owner in Albany do the inspection themselves?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
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Building Inspections in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Albany County handle building inspections.