Rental Property Rules in Buffalo, NY (2026)
6 verified rental property rules for Buffalo, New York, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Rental Registration
All rental dwelling units in Buffalo must be registered annually with the City. Registration requires paying an initial fee of $100 and annual renewal fees; failure to register can result in doubled fees, fines, and a notice to vacate.
Rental Property: Rental Registration
Significant RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 264-3; § 264-21
§ 264-3.A. No person shall allow to be occupied, or rent to another for occupancy, any dwelling unit unless the owner has first obtained a rental dwelling unit registration certificate as hereafter provided. § 264-3.B. The provisions of this chapter shall not apply to owner-occupied properties containing two or fewer dwelling units; hotels; motels; bed-and-breakfast establishments; rooming or b...
Tenant Anti-Harassment
Buffalo's Fair Housing Ordinance prohibits landlords or others from retaliating against or harassing tenants who file housing discrimination complaints, testify in proceedings, or exercise their fair housing rights.
Rental Property: Tenant Anti Harassment
Some RestrictionsBuffalo City Code §§ 154-17(G), 154-19(E)
§ 154-17(G). It shall be unlawful discriminatory practice to... [g]To incite, compel or coerce the doing of any acts forbidden by this article, or to retaliate or discriminate against any person or entity because that person or entity has filed a complaint or testified or assisted in any proceeding commenced under this article. § 154-19(E). If upon the filing of any complaint with the Fair Hous...
Source-of-Income Discrimination
Buffalo's Fair Housing Ordinance (Chapter 154, Article IV) prohibits landlords from refusing to sell or rent housing based on a tenant's lawful source of income, which includes public assistance, Social Security, child support, and housing vouchers.
Rental Property: Source Of Income Discrimination
Heavy RestrictionsBuffalo City Code §§ 154-13, 154-17(A)
§ 154-13. SOURCE OF INCOME: The term 'lawful source of income' shall include, but not be limited to, child support, alimony, foster care subsidies, income derived from social security, or any form of federal, state, or local public assistance or housing assistance, including, but not limited to, Section 8 vouchers, or any other form of housing assistance or credit whether or not such income or ...
Section 8 Voucher Acceptance
Buffalo's Fair Housing Ordinance explicitly lists Section 8 vouchers as a protected lawful source of income; landlords may not refuse to rent to Housing Choice Voucher holders or discriminate against them in any terms or conditions of housing.
Rental Property: Section 8 Voucher
Heavy RestrictionsBuffalo City Code §§ 154-13, 154-17(A)
§ 154-13. SOURCE OF INCOME: The term 'lawful source of income' shall include, but not be limited to, child support, alimony, foster care subsidies, income derived from social security, or any form of federal, state, or local public assistance or housing assistance, including, but not limited to, Section 8 vouchers, or any other form of housing assistance or credit whether or not such income or ...
Rent Increase Notice
Buffalo landlords must give tenants advance written notice before raising rent five percent or more, or declining to renew. New York's Real Property Law § 226-c sets the notice at 30, 60, or 90 days based on how long the tenant has lived in the unit.
Buffalo Rent-Increase Notice: 30/60/90 Days
Some RestrictionsN.Y. Real Property Law § 226-c(2)
Whenever a landlord intends to offer to renew the tenancy of an occupant in a residential dwelling unit with a rent increase equal to or greater than five percent above the current rent... at least thirty days' notice... at least sixty days' notice... at least ninety days' notice... the occupant's lawful tenancy shall continue under the existing terms of the tenancy from the date on which the l...
Repairs & Habitability
Buffalo can condemn and placard any dwelling as unfit for human habitation when it fails a Housing Standards Code order. The Erie County Health Commissioner or the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services enforces the standard, and a condemned unit stays vacated until the placard comes off.
Buffalo Rental Habitability Enforcement
Significant RestrictionsBuffalo City Code § 242-9(A)
Whenever the owner, occupant or lessee or agent for the owner, occupant or lessee or any person having charge or care of such premises fails or refuses to comply with the orders of the Erie County Commissioner of Health and/or the Commissioner of Permit and Inspection Services based on the provisions of this chapter or on any rules or regulations adopted by the Department of Health pursuant to ...
Looking for Erie County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Buffalo city rules.
Rental Property Rules in Erie County →