Clarkstown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 157 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 157-66
Application for search warrants
Operative Text
At the request of the Inspecting Officer, the Town Attorney is authorized to make application to Justice Court of the Town of Clarkstown or any other court of competent jurisdiction for the issuance of a search warrant, to be executed by a police officer, Building Inspector, Fire Inspector or Code Enforcement Officer in order to conduct an inspection of any premises believed to be subject to the registry jurisdiction of this article. The Inspecting Officer may seek a search warrant whenever the owner or occupant fails to allow inspection of any rental dwelling unit where there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of this article or a violation of the New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code or of any code of the Town of Clarkstown has occurred after due notice has been sent by ordinary United States mail. The application for a search warrant shall in all respects comply with applicable laws of the State of New York.
Section 157-66 of Clarkstown's Code of Ordinances establishes a formal legal pathway for town officials to obtain a search warrant when access to a rental dwelling is needed for inspection purposes. When an owner or occupant refuses entry after receiving proper notice by mail, and there is reasonable cause to believe a code violation has occurred, the Town Attorney may apply to Justice Court or another court of competent jurisdiction for a warrant. The warrant, once issued, can be executed by a police officer, Building Inspector, Fire Inspector, or Code Enforcement Officer, and the entire process must comply with New York State law.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 157-66, rental property owners in Clarkstown who receive an inspection notice sent by ordinary U.S. mail are expected to provide access to their units for code compliance review. Operators who refuse or fail to allow entry give town officials grounds to pursue a court-issued search warrant, which can then be executed by law enforcement or code enforcement personnel. Compliant operators generally respond promptly to inspection notices and coordinate access to avoid the escalation to judicial process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 157-66 means that even if a landlord refuses to allow inspectors into a rental unit, town officials have a legal mechanism to obtain a court-authorized search warrant to carry out the inspection. As an occupant, you may be aware that inspections under this article relate to potential violations of local codes or the New York Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. Tenants who have concerns about code conditions in their unit can contact the Clarkstown Building or Code Enforcement office, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand how inspection and enforcement processes under § 157-66 may apply to their situation.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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