Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 154, art. IV § 154-18
Exemptions (Buffalo Fair Housing Ordinance)
Operative Text
The provisions of this article shall apply to all housing within the City of Buffalo as well as land zoned for residential uses except the following: A. The rental of housing on a parcel that contains housing for not more than three households living independently, if the owner resides in one of the dwelling units, or the rental of housing on a parcel that contains more than one residential dwelling in which no dwelling is for more than three households or less living independently, if the owner resides in one of the dwelling units; B. The restriction of the rental of rooms in housing to persons of the same sex; C. The rental of a room or rooms in housing designed in such a way that the occupants would be required to share part of their living quarters with another occupant or occupants not of their own choice; and D. Restriction of the sale, rental or lease of housing exclusively to persons 55 years of age or older and their spouses with respect to age and familial status only.
Section 154-18 of Buffalo's Code of Ordinances, Article IV, carves out specific categories of housing from the fair-housing and rental regulations that otherwise apply city-wide. Owner-occupied properties with three or fewer households, shared-living arrangements where occupants must share quarters with others not of their own choosing, same-sex room rentals, and age-restricted communities limited to residents 55 and older (with respect to age and familial status) are all excluded from the article's requirements. These exemptions mean that certain landlord-tenant relationships in Buffalo fall outside the protections and obligations the article would otherwise impose.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners in Buffalo should be aware that § 154-18 defines the boundaries of Article IV's applicability, and operating within an exemption does not automatically exempt a property from all other local, state, or federal housing laws. Owner-occupants of small properties with three or fewer units, operators of shared-living arrangements, and managers of qualifying 55-and-older communities generally document their eligibility for the applicable exemption as part of their standard compliance practices. Operators who believe their property qualifies under one of the § 154-18 exemptions typically review the specific conditions of each category carefully, since the exemptions are narrowly defined.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Buffalo should know that § 154-18 limits the reach of Article IV's protections, meaning some rental situations—such as renting a room in an owner-occupied building with three or fewer units—may fall outside the article's coverage. If a tenant believes their housing should be covered by Article IV but has been told it is exempt, they may want to review the specific exemption categories listed in § 154-18 to assess whether the claimed exemption actually applies. Tenant-rights organizations in Buffalo can help renters understand whether their situation falls within or outside the article's scope, and what other local, state, or federal protections may still apply.
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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