During the COVID-19 emergency, New York enacted the Tenant Safe Harbor Act and successive eviction moratoriums through January 2022, freezing most Buffalo nonpayment and holdover proceedings and preserving tenancies during the pandemic.
New York's pandemic-era tenant protections began with the March 2020 executive orders and culminated in the Tenant Safe Harbor Act and the COVID-19 Emergency Eviction and Foreclosure Prevention Act (CEEFPA), which paused most Buffalo eviction filings through January 15, 2022. Tenants who experienced COVID-related hardship received continued protection from nonpayment evictions. The Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), administered by NY Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, distributed billions in back-rent statewide including significant Erie County allocations. Although the moratorium has expired, ERAP-protected tenants retained extended protections, and Buffalo housing court still considers ERAP applications.
Filing nonpayment evictions during the active moratorium window without lifting the stay through proper court procedure resulted in case dismissal and potential sanctions under NY court rules.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not restrict residential lawn ornaments, statues, or yard decorations on private property. Ornaments must stay on the owner's property and not e...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not impose specific restrictions on residential inflatable holiday displays. Displays must remain on private property and not encroach into side...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo does not impose a dedicated ordinance restricting residential holiday lighting. The Green Code (UDO Chapter 496) Section 7.4 regulates outdoor lighti...
Buffalo, NY
Permanent outdoor kitchens in Buffalo require building, plumbing, gas, and electrical permits through the Department of Permit and Inspection Services when t...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo treats wood, pellet, and charcoal smokers as open-flame cooking devices under IFC Section 308.1.4 as adopted by New York State (19 NYCRR Part 1225). ...
Buffalo, NY
Buffalo enforces the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (19 NYCRR Part 1225), which incorporates the 2020 International Fire Code with ...
See how Buffalo's eviction moratorium history rules stack up against other locations.
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