Troy, NY Code Violation Reporting: How to Report (2026)

Chapter 285 of the Troy City Code, the zoning chapter adopted by the Troy City Council, carries a short complaint rule in § 285-21. Whenever a violation of the chapter occurs, any person can file a written complaint with the Director. The section does not limit who can complain: it says any person, with no residency or property-ownership condition printed in the text.

The complaint has to be in writing and goes to the Director, the administrative official of the City of Troy who is empowered by law to enforce compliance with the zoning chapter and who is also called the Director of Code Enforcement under § 285-12. The Director then has three duties under § 285-21: record the complaint, immediately investigate and report on it, and take such measures as are appropriate for the situation.

The neighboring sections show what follows. Section 285-20 authorizes the Director, in addition to other remedies, to institute any appropriate action or proceedings to prevent unlawful erection, construction, reconstruction, alteration, repair, conversion, maintenance or use, to restrain, correct or abate the violation, and to prevent occupancy of the building or use. Under § 285-18 the Director keeps records by street address and property owner of all applications, permits, certificates, variances, inspections, approvals, notices and orders. Section 285-19 requires a written annual report to the Planning Board and the Zoning Board of Appeals, due by the last day of January, indexed by case and available to the public under the Freedom of Information Law.

Other complaint types in Troy run on separate tracks. Under § 205-4, no complaint of a nuisance is received by the City Council unless it is in writing and directed to the Council. Housing and property maintenance complaints are covered by Chapter 176, where § 176-5(D)(1) makes it a duty of the Director of Code Enforcement or a designee to cause an investigation of all legitimate complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or unsanitary conditions. Dog complaints under § 124-16 are a signed complaint under oath filed with the Clerk's office of the Police Court of the City, specifying the objectionable conduct, the date, the damage caused, a description of the dog, and the owner's name and residence if known.