Hornell, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 178 § 178-71
Responsibilities of occupants
Operative Text
Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards in regard to the following: A. Limiting occupancy of that part of the premises which they occupy or control to the maximum permitted by the housing standards. B. Maintenance of that part of the premises which they occupy or control in a clean, sanitary and safe condition. C. Maintenance of all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage facilities, in that part of the premises which they occupy or control in a clean and sanitary condition and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof. D. Keeping exits from his dwelling unit clear and unencumbered. E. The disposal of garbage and refuse into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner. F. The extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within their dwelling unit if their unit is the only one infested in the premises. G. Hanging and removing required screens. H. Keeping his domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control.
Section 178-71 of Hornell's Code of Ordinances places a set of maintenance and conduct responsibilities directly on the occupants of dwelling units, rather than on landlords or property owners. These responsibilities cover areas such as keeping occupied spaces clean and safe, not exceeding maximum occupancy limits, maintaining plumbing and appliance fixtures in sanitary condition, keeping exits clear, properly disposing of garbage, handling pest control when only their unit is affected, managing screens, and controlling pets. The rule draws a clear line: tenants bear accountability for conditions within the portion of the premises they occupy or control.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 178-71, a range of day-to-day maintenance duties within individual units are assigned to occupants rather than to the property owner, which can affect how compliance responsibilities are allocated in a tenancy. Operators who document unit conditions at move-in and move-out, and who include lease language referencing occupant duties consistent with § 178-71, are generally better positioned to demonstrate which party was responsible for a given condition. Landlords should still be aware that their own separate obligations under Hornell's housing standards remain unaffected by this provision's assignment of occupant duties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 178-71 establishes that tenants in Hornell are directly responsible for maintaining the portions of a dwelling they occupy or control — including cleanliness, safe exits, garbage disposal, pest control (when limited to their unit), and pet management. Understanding these duties can help tenants avoid being found in violation of local housing standards, which could have consequences for their tenancy. Tenants who believe a landlord is improperly attributing a code violation to them, or who have questions about how § 178-71 interacts with their lease, may benefit from reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or the City of Hornell's code enforcement office for general information.
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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