New Rochelle, NY Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)
Key Facts
- Who can complain
- Any person, not just the tenant
- Inspection authority
- Building Official / Building Bureau, § 174-6
- Standard inspection hours
- 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Out-of-county owners
- Must name a Westchester County agent
- Inspection fee
- Set in Chapter 133, Fees
- Records kept
- Building Official logs all complaints, § 174-7
Summary
Any person can trigger a Housing Code inspection in New Rochelle by filing a complaint with the Building Official, who must inspect the building under § 174-6 whether or not the complaint proves valid. Inspectors enter between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. except in emergencies, and owners or tenants who refuse access risk enforcement action under Chapter 174's nuisance and penalty provisions.
It shall be the duty of the Building Official to inspect or cause to be inspected by the Building Bureau all buildings and premises, as often as may be necessary for the purpose of ascertaining and causing to be corrected any violations of the provisions or intent of this code. ... The Building Official, upon complaint of any person or whenever he or she shall deem it necessary, shall inspect any buildings and premises within his or her jurisdiction.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4601407; v60 updated 2025-12-02; through 12-02-2025).
Full Breakdown
" A tenant, neighbor or anyone else can trigger an inspection simply by complaining to the Building Bureau; no ownership interest in the property is required. Section 174-5 gives the Building Official and authorized inspectors the right to enter, examine and survey dwellings, dwelling units, rooming houses and their premises to determine compliance, and requires owners, operators and occupants to give inspectors free access. m. Occupants must also give the owner access at reasonable times so repairs ordered under the chapter can be made. Section 174-4 governs how correction orders are served: personally, or by registered mail to the owner's last known address or the address on file with the City tax office; an out-of-county owner must designate a local representative in Westchester County to accept service.
Section 174-7 requires the Building Official to keep records of all inspections, permits, licenses and complaints. Complaint-driven inspections are free to the requesting tenant, but § 174-9 charges a fee, set in Chapter 133, Fees, for inspections and reinspections that an owner requests in connection with leasing a unit, and a separate fee for inspecting existing buildings to remove violations.
Violations & Fines
Refusing an inspector entry during a complaint-driven inspection is itself grounds to modify, suspend or revoke a rooming house permit under § 174-10, and can support a nuisance finding under § 174-12. An owner who ignores a correction order after inspection faces a fine up to $2,500 for a first offense and up to $5,000 for a repeat offense within three years, or up to 15 days in jail, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate violation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I request a Housing Code inspection in New Rochelle?
What hours can an inspector enter my rental unit?
Does the landlord get notice before a correction order takes effect?
Is there a fee for a tenant-requested inspection?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in New Rochelle
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Tenant Complaint Process in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Westchester County handle tenant complaint process.