Auburn — Ch. 13 Art. VI Minimum Housing Standards § 13-108
Dwellings unfit for human habitation
Operative Text
The designation of dwellings or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and the procedure for the determination and placarding of such unfit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out in compliance with the following requirements: (1) Any dwelling or dwelling unit which shall be found to have any of the following defects shall be declared as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the housing commissioner: (a) One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, or vermin-infested that it creates a serious hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. (b) One which lacks illumination, ventilation, or sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health or safety of the occupants or the public. (c) One which, because of its general condition or location, is unsanitary, or otherwise dangerous, to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. (2) Any dwelling or dwelling unit determined as unfit for human habitation, and so designated and placarded by the housing commissioner, shall be vacated within a reasonable time as ordered by the housing commissioner. (3) No dwelling or dwelling unit which has been determined and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and such placard is removed by, the housing commissioner. The housing commissioner shall remove such placard only when the defects upon which the determination and placarding action were based have been eliminated, and after the dwelling or dwelling unit has been inspected and been found to comply in all respects with the requirements of this article. (4) No person shall deface or remove the placard from any dwelling or dwelling unit which has been determined as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section. (5) Any person affected by any notice or order relating to the determination and placarding of a dwelling or dwelling unit as unfit for human habitation may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter before the housing commissioner under the procedure set forth in subsection (b) of section 13-103 .
Auburn's Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-108 establishes the process by which dwellings or dwelling units can be officially declared unfit for human habitation. When a property is found to be damaged, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, vermin-infested, or lacking adequate light, ventilation, or sanitation, the housing commissioner may designate and placard it as unfit. Once placarded, the unit must be vacated within a timeframe set by the housing commissioner, and it cannot be reoccupied until the commissioner inspects the property, confirms all defects are corrected, and removes the placard in writing. Anyone affected by such a determination has the right to request a hearing before the housing commissioner.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Auburn Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-108, property owners and managers are expected to maintain dwellings free of the conditions that trigger an 'unfit for human habitation' designation, such as structural decay, vermin infestation, or inadequate sanitation and ventilation. When a placard is issued by the housing commissioner, compliant operators address all cited defects promptly and coordinate a follow-up inspection before allowing any reoccupancy. Operators should be aware that removing or defacing an official placard without authorization is prohibited, and that written approval from the housing commissioner is required before a placarded unit may be used for human habitation again.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Auburn Ch. 13 Art. VI § 13-108 provides that tenants living in dwellings with serious hazards—such as structural damage, vermin infestation, or inadequate sanitation—may be protected through the housing commissioner's authority to declare a unit unfit and require it to be vacated. If a unit is placarded, tenants should be aware that the unit cannot legally be re-rented until the housing commissioner inspects it, confirms all defects are resolved, and removes the placard. Any person affected by a determination under § 13-108 has the right to request a formal hearing before the housing commissioner, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain what that process generally involves.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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