Cohoes, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-14
Responsibilities of owners and occupants
Operative Text
A. Responsibilities of owners. (1) Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the Residential Occupancy Permit Code and shall remain responsible thereof regardless of the fact this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility. (2) Owners of premises shall be responsible for proper maintenance, conditions and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot water supply in multiple dwellings. B. Responsibilities of occupants. Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with the Residential Occupancy Permit Code in regard to the following: (1) Limiting occupancy of that part of the premises which he occupies or controls to the maximum permitted by the Residential Occupancy Permit Code. (2) Maintenance of that part of the premises which he occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition. (3) Maintenance of all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage facilities, in that part of the premises which he occupies or controls in a clean and sanitary condition and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof. (4) Keeping exits from his dwelling unit clear and unencumbered. (5) Disposal of garbage and refuse into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner. (6) Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within his dwelling unit, if his unit is the only one infested in the premises. (7) Keeping his domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control.
Cohoes, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 215 § 215-14 establishes a dual-responsibility framework for residential premises. Owners bear overarching accountability for compliance with the Residential Occupancy Permit Code, proper maintenance of service facilities, and the provision of adequate heat and hot water in multi-unit dwellings — and that responsibility cannot be shifted away by private agreements with operators or tenants. Occupants, in turn, carry their own defined obligations for the portions of the premises they control, covering matters such as occupancy limits, cleanliness, safe exits, refuse disposal, pest control within a solely infested unit, and the management of pets.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 215-14, property owners in Cohoes are held responsible for Residential Occupancy Permit Code compliance even when lease agreements or management contracts assign certain duties to operators or tenants. Compliant operators generally ensure that service facilities — including heat and hot water systems in multiple dwellings — are properly maintained and operational at all times. Owners also typically document the condition of shared systems and common areas to demonstrate ongoing compliance independent of any tenant-side obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 215-14 outlines specific responsibilities that occupants in Cohoes must meet within the portions of the premises they occupy or control, including maintaining cleanliness, keeping exits clear, disposing of refuse properly, managing pets, and handling pest extermination when only their unit is affected. Tenants should be aware that while these duties fall on them, the owner's broader obligations under the same provision — such as maintaining service facilities and supplying heat and hot water — remain in force regardless of any lease language. Tenants who believe an owner is failing those duties may consider contacting the City of Cohoes code enforcement office or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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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