Cortlandt, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 230 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 230-11
Inspection and certification of premises
Operative Text
A. General. (1) All residential rental dwelling units which are not subject to the New York State Building Code and which are located in a structure which is non-owner-occupied shall be inspected and certified by the Fire and/or Building Inspector, who shall determine compliance with, administer and enforce all applicable provisions of the Building and Fire Codes of the State of New York and the Code of the Town of Cortlandt. Said inspections and certifications shall commence as soon as practicable upon the passage of this chapter and will be conducted no less than every 36 months. (2) Except as otherwise provided herein, it shall be unlawful and a violation of this chapter to rent, lease or otherwise allow the occupancy of any residential rental unit without the inspection and certification as required herein. (3) If, upon inspection, said premises do not comply with all applicable provisions of this code or the New York State Building and Fire Codes or the Code of the Town of Cortlandt, the specific reasons for noncompliance shall be specified in writing and delivered to the property's owner or legal agent. B. On or after the passage of this chapter, the Director of Technical Services or the Building Inspector shall have the right to inspect all or any part of the rental dwelling, including any unit or apartment as required herein and/or upon complaint, except that the owner, agent or person in charge thereof shall have the right to insist upon the procurement of a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction by the Director of Technical Services or the Building Inspector, or his or her designee, in order to enable such inspection. The officials charged with conducting the inspection pursuant to this section shall be required to obtain a search warrant whenever an owner, agent or person in charge refuses to permit a warrantless inspection of the premises after having been advised that he or she has a constitutional right to refuse entry of the officials without a search warrant. C. The officials charged with conducting the inspection shall make such inspection, access and circumstances permitting, within three business days of receipt of a request from the owner, agent or occupant. D. Nothing in this section shall be construed to limit the right of the Zoning Administrator or the Building Inspector to inspect any property at any time. If, after issuing a residential occupancy permit, the Department receives a complaint alleging a violation of this section, other than a violation which creates an imminent hazard to the public health or to the physical or mental health of the occupants of the rental property, the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector shall make a good faith effort to notify the owner or agent of the complaint by either telephone or regular mail, before conducting an inspection under this section, and shall provide to the owner or agent one working day to explain what steps the owner or agent is taking to correct the violation. The Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector may take steps necessary, by inspection or other means, to assure that the violation is corrected.
Section 230-11 of the Cortlandt Code of Ordinances requires that non-owner-occupied residential rental units not covered by the New York State Building Code be periodically inspected and certified by the Fire and/or Building Inspector at least once every 36 months. Renting or allowing occupancy of a unit without the required inspection and certification is unlawful under this chapter. When a unit fails inspection, the owner or legal agent must receive a written explanation of each specific deficiency. Inspectors generally must obtain a search warrant if an owner, agent, or person in charge invokes their constitutional right to refuse warrantless entry.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 230-11, operators of non-owner-occupied residential rental properties in Cortlandt are expected to ensure their units are inspected and certified by the Fire and/or Building Inspector on a cycle of no less than every 36 months before renting or allowing occupancy. Compliant operators typically respond promptly to written noncompliance notices, address each identified deficiency, and cooperate with inspection scheduling within the three-business-day window the code contemplates. When a complaint is filed, the Zoning Administrator or Building Inspector will generally attempt to notify the owner or agent by phone or mail and allow one working day to explain corrective steps before conducting a follow-up inspection under § 230-11.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 230-11 establishes that tenants in non-owner-occupied Cortlandt rental units have the benefit of a mandatory periodic inspection and certification regime designed to ensure compliance with applicable building and fire codes. If a tenant believes a violation exists, the provision contemplates a complaint-based inspection process through the Zoning Administrator and/or Building Inspector, who are directed to investigate and take steps to ensure violations are corrected. Tenants who want to understand their options under § 230-11 may consider contacting the Town of Cortlandt's Department of Technical Services or a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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