Schenectady, NY Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Chapter 167, § 167-7, General Safety, sets the baseline habitability standard: installations, alterations and repairs to residential premises, and the materials, assemblies and equipment used in them, must be reasonably safe to persons and property and must conform to applicable New York State statutes, orders, rules and regulations. The section builds in a compliance shortcut: work that meets the Building Code of the City of Schenectady, the National Electrical Code and the Building Code of the State of New York is treated as prima facie evidence that it is reasonably safe, so a landlord who can show code-conforming work has already met the general safety burden.

The Building Inspector administers the whole chapter under § 167-10, with authority to survey housing conditions, order inspections and issue written orders to remedy any violation found on a property. When a violation is found, § 167-14 requires the Building Inspector to give the owner, agent, operator or occupant written notice specifying the violation and a reasonable compliance deadline, served personally, by first-class mail, or posted conspicuously on the building. If the responsible party fails, neglects or refuses to abate the violation, the Corporation Counsel is authorized to bring a court action to compel compliance.

Anyone issued a violation notice is also subject to a $75 administrative fee, though that fee is waived if every occupied unit in the building holds a valid rental certificate, tying the general-safety standard directly into the City's separate rental certification program.