Buffalo, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 242 § 242-16
Notice and tenant assistance (Buffalo Housing Standards Ordinance)
Operative Text
A. Once a judgment against a property has been added to the general tax roll, the City shall notify all owners or known interested parties of record of placement within 30 days by service pursuant to § 308 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules for natural persons, or pursuant to § 1125 of the New York State Real Property Tax Law for non-natural persons. The notice shall include a description of the violation(s), the date of said violation(s), the amount owed, a statement detailing the foreclosure process that will occur if the violations remain unpaid or uncured as provided in § 242-17 , the process to claim any surplus funds, and contact information for the City Department of Tax and Assessment. B. The City or its designee shall implement a program to provide notice and counseling assistance or other support in relocating tenants, as necessary, residing in property at risk of tax foreclosure due to unpaid judgments under this section.
Buffalo City Code § 242-16 establishes two related obligations triggered when a property judgment is added to the general tax roll. First, the City must formally notify all owners and known interested parties within 30 days, using legally specified service methods, and that notice must spell out the violations, amounts owed, the foreclosure process that could follow, how to claim surplus funds, and contact details for the Department of Tax and Assessment. Second, the City or a designated partner must run a program offering notice, counseling, and relocation support to tenants living in properties at risk of tax foreclosure because of unpaid judgments under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 242-16, property owners and other parties of record can expect to receive formal legal notice from the City within 30 days of a judgment being placed on the tax roll, delivered through the service methods prescribed by New York law. Compliant operators generally keep their contact information current with the City and respond promptly to any such notice, since the notice itself will detail the path to cure violations and avoid the foreclosure process described in § 242-17. Staying current on judgments and maintaining open communication with the City Department of Tax and Assessment are practices associated with avoiding escalation under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 242-16 entitles tenants living in properties at risk of tax foreclosure to notice and access to counseling or relocation assistance through a program the City or its designee is required to maintain. If a tenant believes they reside in a property with unpaid judgments on the tax roll, they may contact the City Department of Tax and Assessment — whose information must appear in any § 242-16 notice — to learn about available support. Tenant-rights organizations in Buffalo can also help residents understand what assistance programs exist and what options may be available when a landlord's property faces foreclosure proceedings.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation