Chester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 72 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 72-15
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
Any rental dwelling unit not registered pursuant to the provisions of this article shall not, following the 30th day after the effective date of this article, be offered for rental. Any owner whose failure to comply with the provisions of this article results in legal action by the Village to either compel compliance or to enjoin occupancy shall be liable to the Village, as part of any judgment obtained by the Village, for the Village's costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, in obtaining such judgment. A. Any person or entity that shall violate any of the provisions of this article or who fails to comply with any of the requirements thereof shall be guilty of a violation, punishable by: (1) A fine of not less than $500 and not exceeding $1,000 upon conviction of a first offense. (2) A fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $3,000 upon a conviction of the second of two offenses, both of which were committed within a period of five years. (3) A fine of not less than $3,000 nor more than $5,000 upon a conviction of the third of three offenses, all of which were committed within a period of five years. B. Each week a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense subjecting the offender to additional weekly fines in the amount equaling the original fine. C. The Board of Trustees may amend the penalties by resolution.
Chester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 72 § 72-15 establishes a tiered penalty structure for violations of the Village's rental dwelling unit registration article. Unregistered units may not be offered for rent after the initial 30-day grace period, and owners who force the Village into legal action to enforce compliance can be held responsible for the Village's court costs and attorney's fees. Fines for violations escalate from a range of $500–$1,000 for a first offense, to $1,000–$3,000 for a second offense within five years, and $3,000–$5,000 for a third offense within five years, with each continuing week of non-compliance treated as a separate, independently fineable offense.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Chester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 72 § 72-15, compliant property owners ensure that every rental dwelling unit is registered before it is offered for rent, avoiding the post-grace-period prohibition on unregistered rentals. Operators who stay current with registration requirements reduce exposure to the escalating fine schedule, which can compound quickly since each week of ongoing non-compliance is treated as a new, separately punishable offense. Owners also bear the risk of reimbursing the Village for its legal costs and attorney's fees if the Village must pursue court action to compel compliance or halt occupancy.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 72 § 72-15 gives tenants a basis to inquire whether their rental unit has been properly registered with the Village, since unregistered units are prohibited from being offered for rent after the article's grace period. If a tenant believes their unit may be unregistered or otherwise out of compliance, they may consider contacting the Village of Chester directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options. Because violations under this provision can result in enforcement action by the Village—including potential injunctions on occupancy—tenants in affected units may want to stay informed about the registration status of their home.
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.
Effective Timeline
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