Albany, NY Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing provision
- City Code § 231-114
- Enforcing agency
- Bureau of Code Enforcement
- Trigger
- Unsafe, insanitary, or overcrowded structure
- City action
- Vacate order, then repair/demolish (§ 231-122)
- Cost recovery
- Lien on the property (§ 231-123)
Summary
Albany's Bureau of Code Enforcement can designate a decayed, unsafe, or overcrowded building unfit for habitation, order it vacated, and demolish it if repair costs exceed its value.
Any premises within the scope of this code having any of the defects found in Subsections B, C, D and E may be designated by the chief officer of the Bureau as unfit for human habitation and a notice to such effect shall be posted upon the premises.
B. The structure lacks ventilation, sanitation, heat or other facilities adequate to protect the health and safety of the occupants or the public.
C. The structure or premises is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, insanitary, unsafe or vermin-infested in such a manner as to create a serious hazard to the health and safety of the occupants or the public.
D. The structure or premises, because of the location, general conditions, state of the premises or number of occupants, is so insanitary, unsafe, overcrowded or otherwise detrimental to health and safety that it creates a serious hazard to the occupants or the public.
E. The structure, because of the failure of the owner or occupant to comply with such notices or orders issued pursuant to this code, is unfit for human habitation.
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
Under City Code § 231-114, the chief officer of the Bureau of Code Enforcement may designate a building unfit for human habitation if it lacks adequate ventilation, sanitation, or heat, is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, or vermin-infested, or is otherwise unsafe or overcrowded to a degree that creates a serious hazard. A notice is posted on the premises. If the owner does not comply, § 231-116 lets the chief officer order the property vacated, and § 231-122 authorizes the city to demolish, repair, secure, or vacate the structure itself once a failure to comply is deemed a nuisance, with costs recovered from the owner as a property lien under § 231-123.
Violations & Fines
Failure to comply is prima facie evidence of a code violation (§ 231-125); the city may abate the nuisance itself and bill the owner, and unpaid demolition or repair costs become a lien on the property under § 231-123.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who decides a building is unfit in Albany?
Can the city demolish my building?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Albany
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Property Blight in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Albany County handle property blight.