Babylon Village, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 199 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 199-45
Responsibility for compliance
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards set forth in this chapter, and they shall be responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants, regardless of any agreement between owners and occupants or operators as to which party shall assume such responsibility. Owners of premises shall be responsible for the proper maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot-water supply in multiple dwellings. B. Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards set forth in this chapter with respect to the following items: (1) Maximum occupancy, as provided by § 199-9 . (2) Prohibited uses, as provided by § 199-10 . (3) Prohibited accumulations and storage, as provided by § 199-21A and B . (4) General property maintenance requirements, as provided by Chapter 269 , Property Maintenance, Article II , Requirements.. (5) Maintenance of tenant-owned equipment. C. No owner, lessee or person having possession and control of a premises shall: (1) Build, alter or use any structure, building or land nor permit any structure, building or land to be built, altered or used in a manner contrary to the provisions of this chapter or contrary to any statement, representation, application, plan or specification submitted to and approved by the Village. (2) Cause or permit any violation of this chapter to exist or fail to comply with the requirements of this chapter, and any architect, builder, contractor, agent or person who shall have knowingly assisted in the commission of any such violation shall each be guilty of a separate and individual offense.
Babylon Village Code ch. 199 § 199-45 establishes a layered system of responsibility for housing-standards compliance. Property owners bear primary and non-waivable responsibility for overall code compliance, proper maintenance of service facilities, and adequate heat and hot water in multiple dwellings — regardless of any private agreement shifting that duty to a tenant or operator. Occupants, in turn, carry their own defined responsibilities for specific items such as maximum occupancy, prohibited uses, prohibited accumulations, general property maintenance, and upkeep of equipment they own. No owner, lessee, or person in control of a premises may knowingly permit violations, and any architect, builder, contractor, or agent who knowingly assists in a violation is treated as committing a separate individual offense.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Babylon Village Code ch. 199 § 199-45, compliant property owners and operators maintain service facilities, heat, and hot water in multiple dwellings as a non-delegable duty — meaning a lease clause assigning those obligations to a tenant does not relieve the owner of legal responsibility. Operators generally keep records demonstrating that buildings meet the housing standards in ch. 199, and they avoid permitting any structure or land use that contradicts approved plans or representations submitted to the Village. Because agents, contractors, and architects who knowingly assist in a violation each face a separate offense under § 199-45(C)(2), property managers typically ensure that all hired parties are aware of and working within the chapter's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Babylon Village Code ch. 199 § 199-45 makes clear that owners cannot use a lease agreement to escape responsibility for core housing standards, which means tenants retain the benefit of those protections even if a lease purports to shift maintenance duties to them. At the same time, § 199-45(B) places specific compliance duties on occupants themselves — covering matters like maximum occupancy, prohibited uses, prohibited accumulations, and maintenance of tenant-owned equipment — so tenants are expected to meet those standards as well. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet obligations under ch. 199 § 199-45 may consider documenting conditions, contacting the Babylon Village code-enforcement office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available complaint and enforcement paths.
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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