Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-28
Violations; bodily injury; death, penalties
Operative Text
Whoever, whether or not acting under color of law, by force or threat of force willfully injures, intimidates or interferes with, or attempts to injure, intimidate or interfere with: A. Any person because of his or her race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability, and because he or she is or has been selling, purchasing, renting, financing, occupying, or contracting or negotiating for the sale, purchase rental, financing or occupation of any dwelling, or applying for or participating in any service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings; or B. Any person because he or she has been, or in order to intimidate such person or any other person or any class of persons from: (1) Participating, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability, in any of the activities, services, organizations or facilities described in this chapter; or (2) Affording another person or class of persons opportunity or protection so to participate; or C. Any citizen because he is or has been, or in order to discourage such citizen or any other citizen from lawfully aiding or encouraging other persons to participate, without discrimination on account of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, marital status, sexual orientation, familial status, or disability in any of the activities, services, organizations, or facilities described in Subsection A of this section, or participating lawfully in speech or peaceful assembly opposing any denial of the opportunity to so participate, shall be fined not more than $1,000 or imprisoned not more than one year, or both; and if bodily injury results shall be fined not more than $10,000 or imprisoned not more than 10 years, or both; and if death results shall be subject to imprisonment for any term of years or for life.
Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-28 prohibits anyone—whether acting under official authority or not—from using force or the threat of force to injure, intimidate, or interfere with people exercising their fair housing rights, including buying, renting, or occupying a dwelling, on the basis of protected characteristics such as race, religion, disability, or sexual orientation. The provision also covers interference with those who support or encourage others in exercising those rights, as well as peaceful assembly or speech opposing housing discrimination. Penalties escalate based on outcome: a base fine of up to $1,000 and/or up to one year of imprisonment, rising to up to $10,000 and/or up to ten years if bodily injury results, and up to life imprisonment if death results.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-28, property owners and managers are expected to ensure that no one acting on their behalf uses force, threats, or intimidation against any person exercising fair housing rights or supporting others in doing so. Compliant operators maintain clear policies against coercive conduct and take steps to ensure that staff, agents, and contractors understand that such behavior carries serious criminal consequences. Because this provision applies to anyone—not just government actors—landlords and their representatives are directly subject to its prohibitions.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Geneva, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 158 § 158-28 provides strong protections for tenants and housing applicants who face force or threats because of their protected characteristics or their participation in fair housing activities. If someone experiences or witnesses conduct that may violate this provision, general enforcement paths include reporting the incident to local law enforcement, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or reaching out to a fair housing agency that can assess whether a complaint is appropriate. Because this provision carries criminal penalties—including imprisonment—incidents involving force or threats are generally treated as serious law enforcement matters in addition to any civil fair housing remedies that may be available.
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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