Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-106
Access to premises
Operative Text
A. The chief officer or his designated representative upon presenting himself for the purpose of making an inspection shall exhibit proper identification and state the purpose of his business on the premises. The chief officer or his designated representative, with the permission of either the owner, operator, agent or occupant thereof, is then authorized to enter, examine and survey the dwelling, dwelling unit or premises in the discharge of his official duties. The inspection shall be made in such a manner so as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession thereof. The owner, operator, agent or occupant may refuse entry at the time the request is made by the chief officer or his designated representative; however, should permission to enter and make inspection be not granted within 10 days thereafter, the chief officer shall enforce entry according to the laws pertaining thereto. B. Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or premises shall give the owner or his operator, agent or employee access to any part of said dwelling, dwelling unit or premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making repairs or alterations which are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this code or any lawful order issued pursuant thereto.
Albany Code § 231-106 establishes a two-way access framework for residential dwellings. Under Part A, a city housing inspector must show identification and explain the reason for a visit before entering; the occupant or owner may decline entry at that moment, but if permission is not granted within 10 days, the inspector may pursue lawful forced entry. Under Part B, occupants are required to allow owners, operators, agents, or employees into any part of the dwelling at any reasonable hour when access is needed to make repairs or alterations necessary to comply with the housing code or a lawful order.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Albany Code § 231-106(B), property owners and their agents are generally entitled to access a dwelling unit at reasonable hours when the purpose is to perform repairs or alterations required by the housing code or an official order. Compliant operators typically document the reason for entry, schedule visits at reasonable times, and communicate clearly with occupants in advance. Owners should also be aware that Part A governs city inspector visits, meaning they may be asked to grant or facilitate access within a 10-day window before the inspector pursues other legal remedies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Albany Code § 231-106 gives tenants the right to ask a city inspector for identification and an explanation of the inspection's purpose before allowing entry under Part A, and tenants may decline entry at the time of the request—though the inspector may seek legal entry if permission is withheld for more than 10 days. Under Part B, tenants are generally obligated to allow the owner or their representatives in at reasonable hours for code-compliance repairs, but the requirement that visits occur at a 'reasonable hour' provides some protection against intrusive scheduling. Tenants who believe their access rights are being misused may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or the city's housing office for guidance on how § 231-106 applies to their situation.
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 7, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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