Cheektowaga, NY Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing sections
- Cheektowaga Code § 194-3, § 194-4, § 194-7
- Registration fee
- $20 every two years
- New owner deadline
- 30 days after acquiring a rental
- Late fine
- $250 per 30 days, capped at $1,000
- Effective date
- January 1, 2019
- Exempt uses
- Hotels, motels, B&Bs, hospitals, nursing homes
Summary
Every non-owner-occupied rental unit in Cheektowaga must carry a property owner registration certificate before it's rented or occupied, under Town Code § 194-3. Owners pay $20 every two years, register new acquisitions within 30 days, and face fines up to $1,000 for skipping it.
A. Registration required. No person or entity shall allow to be occupied, or rent to another for occupancy, any single-family or multiple-family residential property unit unless the owner has first obtained a property owner registration certificate. B. Exemptions. The provisions of this article shall not apply to hotels; motels; bed-and-breakfast establishments; rooming or boarding houses; hospitals; nursing homes; or other dwelling units which offer or provide medical or nursing services if such units are subject to state or federal licensing or regulations concerning the safety of the users, patients or tenants. ... § 194-7.A. The fee to file a property owner registration statement and the fee to renew the property owner registration certificate is $20 every two years. ... § 194-6.A.(1) $250 for every thirty-day period until an acceptable statement is submitted, up to $1,000.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4996449; v35 updated 2026-05-26; through 05-26-2026).
Full Breakdown
Section 194-3(A), effective January 1, 2019 under § 194-8, bars anyone from allowing occupancy of, or renting out, a single-family or multiple-family residential unit unless the owner has first obtained a property owner registration certificate. Section 194-4 requires existing owners to register within 60 days of the effective date and new owners to register within 30 days of acquiring a rental, filing a sworn statement with the owner's name, address and phone number, and, for out-of-county owners, a designated Erie County property manager who can accept service of process.
Section 194-7 sets the fee at $20 every two years, waived for owners who register within the first 60 days. Failure to file, or filing an incomplete statement, triggers escalating fines under § 194-6: $250 for every 30-day period the statement remains unfiled, capped at $1,000, added to the property tax bill as a lien if unpaid within 30 days of notice. If a certificate is denied or revoked, § 194-5 bars renting vacant units and can force occupied units to be vacated within 90 days of notice. Hotels, motels, bed-and-breakfasts, rooming or boarding houses, hospitals and licensed nursing facilities are exempt under § 194-3(B).
Violations & Fines
Section 194-6(A) fines an owner $250 for every 30-day period a registration statement remains unfiled or incomplete, up to $1,000, and an unpaid fine becomes a lien on the property tax bill under § 194-6(B). A denied or revoked certificate can also force occupied units to be vacated within 90 days under § 194-5(B).
Frequently Asked Questions
Which rentals in Cheektowaga are exempt from registering?
How much does Cheektowaga charge to register a rental property?
What happens if a Cheektowaga landlord doesn't register a rental?
Can tenants be forced out over an unregistered Cheektowaga rental?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cheektowaga
New York rules heatmap·Compare Cheektowaga to another location·View the New York rental property rules overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.
Rental Registration in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Erie County handle rental registration.