East Hampton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 199 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 199-1-9

Penalties for offenses

In Force
Verified 11/10/2026 · Next check 12/10/2026
East HamptonRental Registration

Operative Text

East Hampton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 199 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 199-1-9
A. A violation of this chapter by the owner(s) and/or tenant(s) shall be punishable as follows: (1) A violation of § 199-1-2E (Failure to publish rental registry or seasonal rental number) is hereby declared to be an offense punishable by a fine not less than $150 nor more than $1,500 or imprisonment for a period not to exceed 15 days, or both. (2) A violation of any other section of this chapter is declared to be an offense punishable by a fine not less than $3,000 nor more than $15,000 or imprisonment not to exceed a period of six months, or both, for a conviction of a first offense. (3) A second or subsequent violation of any section of this chapter within an eighteen-month period is hereby declared to be an offense punishable by a fine not less than $8,000 nor more than $30,000 or imprisonment not to exceed a period of six months, or both. (4) For the purpose of conferring jurisdiction upon courts and judicial officers in general, violations of this chapter, other than § 199-1-2E , shall be deemed misdemeanors, and, for such purpose only, all provisions of law relating to misdemeanors shall apply. Each day's continued violation shall constitute a separate additional violation. B. Additionally, in lieu of imposing the fines authorized in § 199-1-9A , in accordance with Penal Law § 80.05(5) , the court may sentence the defendant(s) to pay an amount, fixed by the court, no less than the applicable minimum statutory fine permitted under § 199-1-9A nor more than double the amount of the rent collected over the term of the occupancy. C. Upon motion of the prosecuting attorney, the court may dismiss the violation or reduce the minimum fine imposed where it finds that the defendant had cooperated with the Town of East Hampton in the investigation and prosecution of a violation of this chapter. Factors which the court may consider include, but are not limited to, a report from the office of the Town Attorney confirming that the defendant did in fact cooperate and whether: (1) The defendant reported the violation(s) to the Town of East Hampton; (2) The defendant assisted the Town of East Hampton in investigating and prosecuting the violation(s); (3) The defendant provided access to the rental property or seasonal rental property; (4) The defendant promptly pursued his/her/its own rights under the lease to remedy the violation or adequately pursued an eviction proceeding; (5) All violations existing at the rental property or seasonal rental property have been promptly remediated. D. Where authorized by a duly adopted resolution of the Town Board, the Town Attorney may bring and maintain a civil proceeding, in the name of the Town, in the Supreme Court, to temporarily, preliminarily and permanently enjoin the person or persons conducting, maintaining or permitting said violation. The owner and tenants of the residence wherein the violation is conducted, maintained or permitted may be made defendants in the action. E. If a finding is made by a court of competent jurisdiction that the defendants, or any of them, have caused, permitted, or allowed a violation of this chapter, a penalty to be jointly and severally included in the judgment may be awarded at the discretion of the court in an amount not to exceed $1,000 for each day it is found that the defendants, or any one of them, individually, collectively, or in conjunction with other(s) caused, permitted or allowed the violation.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

East Hampton Code ch. 199 § 199-1-9 establishes a tiered penalty structure for violations of the town's rental regulations. Failing to publish a rental registry or seasonal rental number carries fines between $150 and $1,500 and/or up to 15 days imprisonment, while most other violations carry fines of $3,000–$15,000 and/or up to six months imprisonment for a first offense, rising to $8,000–$30,000 for repeat offenses within 18 months. Each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, and courts may alternatively impose fines up to double the rent collected during the occupancy period. Courts also have discretion to reduce or dismiss penalties when a defendant cooperated with the Town of East Hampton's investigation.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 10, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 199-1-9, property owners face escalating financial and criminal exposure for each day a rental regulation violation persists, making prompt compliance with all requirements of ch. 199 a standard operating practice. Compliant operators typically maintain current rental registry listings, display required seasonal rental numbers, and respond quickly to any identified deficiencies to avoid the compounding effect of per-day violations. Operators who discover a violation generally document their remediation steps and, where applicable, communicate proactively with the Town of East Hampton, as cooperation is a factor courts may consider when determining whether to reduce or dismiss penalties under § 199-1-9C.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 199-1-9 makes clear that tenants, not just owners, can be named as defendants in enforcement actions brought under ch. 199, so understanding the chapter's requirements is relevant to anyone renting in East Hampton. Tenants who become aware of a violation may have the option of reporting it to the Town of East Hampton, which § 199-1-9C identifies as a cooperation factor that courts can weigh in favor of reducing penalties. Tenants seeking to understand their rights or potential exposure under this provision may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource familiar with East Hampton rental law.

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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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

East Hampton Code § 199-1-3
East Hampton Code § 199-1-4
East Hampton Code § 199-1-2
East Hampton Code § 199-1-9

Related Rules

§ 244.210
Manner of registering
§ 244.230
Posting
§ 165.10
JUST CAUSE ENFORCEMENT FEE

Source Information

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