Union, NY Rental Inspections: Tenant Complaint Process (2026)

Section 86-11(B) of the Town of Union Code is the provision that lets a complaint turn into an inspection of a dwelling unit. Beyond the scheduled inspections in Subsection A, the Code Enforcement Officer or a designated inspector can perform a firesafety and property maintenance inspection of any building, structure, use, occupancy or dwelling unit at any time on any of three triggers: a request from the property owner or an authorized agent, receipt of a written statement alleging that conditions or activities failing to comply with the Uniform Code or Energy Code exist, or receipt of other information the officer reasonably believes to be reliable that gives reasonable cause to believe such conditions exist. A tenant's route is the written statement. The subsection also provides that nothing in it permits an inspection under any circumstances under which a court order or warrant is required, unless the order or warrant has been obtained.

Section 86-12 then governs the investigation. The Code Enforcement Officer reviews and investigates the complaint, with steps that include inspecting and documenting the alleged conditions, giving the owner and any other responsible person notice and an opportunity to abate, correct or cure, issuing a stop-work order where appropriate, and reinspecting and filing a final written report with the complaint once the violation is corrected. Section 86-13 requires the officer to keep records of all complaints received and all investigations conducted, and those records are public records open for public inspection during normal business hours.

Scheduled inspections run on their own clock: at least once every 36 months for multiple dwellings not covered by the 12-month categories, and at least once every 12 months for dormitories and buildings with an area of public assembly. Section 86-11(C) leaves the powers of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control intact. These rules apply in the Town of Union outside the Villages of Endicott and Johnson City.