Property Maintenance in Buffalo, NY (2026)
3 verified property maintenance rules for Buffalo, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Property Blight
When a property owner repeatedly fails to comply with Buffalo's building and property maintenance codes, the Commissioner may erect a public shame sign on the adjacent right-of-way identifying the owner by name and address.
Property Maintenance: Property Blight
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 341-14
When the Commissioner determines that the owner or agent of record for real property within the City has not complied with the standards of this chapter or other standards or laws for the construction, replacement or repair of buildings, the Commissioner shall immediately serve notice upon that owner or agent of record as provided below and may have erected a sign with the text stated below on ...
Vacant Lot Maintenance
Buffalo requires every yard, court, and vacant lot in the City, whether privately owned or built on, to stay clean and free of hazards, rodent harborage, and noxious overgrowth under City Code § 341-6. The rule sits inside the Property Maintenance chapter's general standards article and carries a Class D fine under the City's own schedule.
Buffalo Vacant Lot Maintenance Standards
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 341-6(E), (F)
Yards, courts and vacant lots shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation. Heavy undergrowth and accumulations of plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health shall be eliminated.
Snow & Sidewalk Clearing
Every Buffalo property owner or occupant must clear snow and ice off the sidewalk fronting their premises before 9:00 a.m. under City Code § 413-50, and must also clear any handicapped access cut by the same hour. Businesses holding a City license or building permit face a stricter 24-hour clock. Failing to comply carries a Fine Class D penalty capped at $300 under § 137-7.
Buffalo Sidewalk Snow and Ice Removal Deadline
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 413-50(A), (E)
It shall be the duty of every owner or occupant of any premises abutting any public street to remove, before 9:00 a.m., all snow and ice which may have fallen upon the sidewalk abutting said premises. In case said sidewalk is not paved its full width, it shall be necessary to remove such snow or ice from a space three feet in width. ... The owner or occupant of any building or lot abutting a pu...
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County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buffalo city rules.
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