Fulton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 475 § 475-51
Infestation and screening
Operative Text
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free from insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements shall be appropriately ratproofed with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. From May 1 to November 1, entrances to buildings containing food preparation areas, food service areas or any areas where products used in food for human consumption are processed, manufactured, packaged or stored shall be provided with a self-closing-type device. Windows or other openings used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened. Screens shall not be required for windows located 60 or more feet above grade, as to be free from mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects. D. The exterior of every structure used for human habitation shall be so maintained as to be vermin- and rodent-free. Where rodent or vermin problems exist, all exterior windows, doors and other openings two feet above ground level and below shall be screened or protected with acceptable wire mesh or other approved material. Defects, cracks or holes shall be tightly sealed to prevent the entrance of vermin and rodents.
Fulton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 475 § 475-51 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, using extermination methods that meet generally accepted standards. Basements with rodent-infestation risk must have windows and openings covered with wire mesh or similar materials, and buildings with food-related areas must have self-closing entrance devices and screened ventilation openings during the warmer months (May 1 through November 1). The exteriors of all human-habitation structures must remain vermin- and rodent-free, with low openings screened or protected and any cracks or holes sealed to block pest entry.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential and food-service properties in Fulton should be aware that § 475-51 requires ongoing maintenance to prevent pest harborage both inside and outside their buildings. Compliant property managers typically conduct regular inspections of basement openings, exterior gaps, and low-level windows, installing wire mesh or approved materials wherever rodent risk is identified, and ensuring self-closing devices and screens are in place on food-area entrances and ventilation openings between May 1 and November 1. Extermination methods used on the property are expected to align with generally accepted industry practices, and all cracks, holes, or defects in the exterior envelope are kept sealed to prevent pest entry.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 475-51 of Fulton's Code of Ordinances, tenants living in structures with insect, vermin, or rodent problems have a basis to assert that the property is not being maintained in compliance with local habitability standards. Tenants who observe unaddressed infestations, unscreened basement openings, unsealed exterior gaps, or missing self-closing devices on food-area entrances may consider documenting the conditions and notifying the local code enforcement office, which has authority to inspect and require corrective action. Tenant-rights organizations in New York can provide general information about how to raise a code violation as part of a broader housing complaint or as a defense in certain landlord-initiated proceedings.
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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