Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-133
Fees
Operative Text
A. To offset the administrative costs of preparing and maintaining the Rental Dwelling Registry there shall be, except for owner-occupied rental dwellings containing not more than one rental unit owned by one or more natural persons, all of whom are aged 65 years or older, a fee of $50 for each unit or $100 for a residential unit which has not had an active residential occupancy permit for more than 45 days at the time the new residential occupancy permit is applied for. B. The following schedule of fees shall apply with respect to the inspection and certification of residential dwelling units: (1) There shall be no fee for an initial inspection to determine compliance with the applicable provisions of this Code, or for a first re-inspection. (2) Any and all subsequent re-inspection(s) necessary to determine compliance with required corrective action or repairs shall be subject to a fee of $50 per unit inspected. (3) Failure to appear within 15 minutes of a scheduled inspection ("no show") shall result in a fee of the lesser of $50 per unit or $300. (4) Cancellation of a scheduled inspection less than 24 hours before that scheduled inspection ("late cancellation") shall result in a fee of the lesser of $50 per unit or $100. (5) Cancellation of a scheduled inspection less than 24 hours before the scheduled inspection for the unit more than once or after a "no show" ("second cancellation") shall result in a fee of the lesser of $75 per unit or $300. C. Fees prescribed under this section for failure to appear at, and cancellation of, a scheduled inspection may be waived at the discretion of the Commissioner or their designee for good cause shown. D. Unpaid fees shall be subject to the placement and recording of a lien by the City of Albany against the inspected property. E. The fees set forth in this part may be increased at the discretion of the Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance as may be deemed necessary by the Chief Building Official to recover the administrative cost of issuing residential occupancy permits and maintaining the rental dwelling registry provided that no such increase shall exceed 5% in a given calendar year.Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-133 establishes a fee structure tied to the city's Rental Dwelling Registry and the inspection and certification of residential units. A base registration fee of $50 per unit applies to most rental dwellings, rising to $100 for units that have lacked an active residential occupancy permit for more than 45 days when a new permit is sought; owner-occupied buildings with no more than one rental unit owned entirely by natural persons aged 65 or older are exempt from the registry fee. Additional fees apply for subsequent re-inspections ($50 per unit), missed inspections, and late or repeated cancellations, while the city retains authority to place a lien on a property for any unpaid fees. The Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance may increase these fees by up to 5% per calendar year as needed to recover administrative costs.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-133 generally maintain current residential occupancy permits to avoid the elevated $100 registration fee that applies when a unit has been without an active permit for more than 45 days. Compliant operators also keep scheduled inspections, since the fee schedule imposes charges of up to $50 per unit (or $300 maximum) for no-shows and up to $75 per unit (or $300 maximum) for a second cancellation or a cancellation following a no-show. Unpaid fees under this section can result in a lien recorded against the property by the City of Albany, making timely payment an important part of routine property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Albany, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 231 § 231-133, the fee structure is primarily directed at landlords and property owners rather than tenants, but the inspection and certification process it funds is designed to ensure rental units meet the city's code standards. Tenants who believe their unit has not been properly registered or inspected may contact the Albany Department of Buildings and Regulatory Compliance to inquire about a property's permit and inspection status. Tenant-rights organizations in Albany can help residents understand how the Rental Dwelling Registry and occupancy permit requirements may relate to habitability concerns in their building.
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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