Hamburg Town, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 109 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 109-6
Enforcement
Operative Text
A. Filing of complaints. (1) The Town shall receive and investigate complaints under this chapter. The Supervisor shall designate the Director of Community Development of the Town to perform the function contained in this section and may also designate a not-for-profit fair housing organization to either assist the Director of Community Development in conducting investigations or to complete said function and investigations. (2) Any person or organization, whether or not an aggrieved party, may file with the Supervisor's designee a complaint of a violation of this chapter. (3) The Supervisor's designee may investigate individual instances and patterns of conduct prohibited by this chapter, even without a complaint from another person or organization, and may initiate complaints in connection therewith. B. Investigation. The Supervisor's designee shall notify the accused party, in writing, within 30 days of the filing of any complaint. The designee shall make a prompt investigation in connection with the complaint and, within 100 days after a complaint is filed, determine whether the Town has jurisdiction and, if so, whether there is probable cause to believe that the person named in the complaint (hereinafter referred to as the "respondent"), has engaged or is engaging in art unlawful discriminatory practice. If, during or after the investigation, the designee believes that appropriate action to preserve the status quo or to prevent irreparable harm is advisable, the designee shall advise the Town Attorney, in writing, to bring immediately, in the name of the Town, any action necessary to preserve such status quo or to prevent such harm, including the seeking of temporary restraining orders and preliminary injunctions. C. Action. If, at the conclusion of the investigation, the Supervisor's designee shall determine that there is probable cause to credit the allegation of the complaint, the designee shall certify the matter to the Town Attorney, who shall institute proceedings in the name of the Town. In the event of a conflict of interest between Town personnel and the repondent(s), the Supervisor's designee may refer the matter to outside counsel, providing notice to interested parties within 30 days of the date upon which the conflict was determined. D. Conciliation. If, in the judgment of the Supervisor's designee, a conciliation agreement would satisfactorily resolve the complaint, he/she shall seek to facilitate such an agreement, which may include provisions requiring the respondent to refrain from unlawful discrimatory practices and pay such compensation and/or perform affirmative relief as is agreed upon by the parties. Conciliation agreements shall not be subject to confidentiality.
Hamburg Town Code § 109-6 establishes a formal process for receiving, investigating, and resolving complaints about unlawful discriminatory housing practices within the Town. Complaints may be filed by any person or organization, and the Supervisor's designee—typically the Director of Community Development or a designated fair housing organization—can also open investigations on its own initiative. If probable cause is found, the matter is referred to the Town Attorney for legal proceedings, though the parties may also reach a conciliation agreement, the terms of which are not kept confidential.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Hamburg Town Code § 109-6, property owners and managers should be aware that a formal complaint process exists in which any party—not just a directly aggrieved individual—may file a discrimination complaint against them. Upon receiving a complaint, the Town's designee is required to provide written notice to the accused party within 30 days and complete an investigation within 100 days. Operators who maintain fair housing compliance practices and keep thorough records of their rental decisions are generally better positioned to respond to any inquiry that may arise under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Hamburg Town Code § 109-6 gives tenants and other individuals the right to file a housing discrimination complaint with the Supervisor's designee, regardless of whether they are the directly aggrieved party. The investigation process includes written notification to the accused party, a probable cause determination, and the possibility of a conciliation agreement that can require the respondent to stop discriminatory practices and provide compensation. Tenants who believe they have experienced a violation may consider contacting the Town's Director of Community Development, a designated fair housing organization, or a tenant-rights group to understand the options available under this provision.
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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