Ithaca (Town), N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 207 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 207-2
Operating permit required; inspections; violations
Operative Text
A. A residential dwelling unit that is at times rented by a tenant for a period of at least 30 consecutive days and at times rented by a tenant for a period of less than 30 consecutive days shall require valid operating permits pursuant to both this chapter and to § 270-219.7 , which governs short-term rental uses. B. The Code Enforcement Department shall issue an operating permit upon verification by inspection that the items listed in Subsection B(1) through (13) below meet the requirements of the applicable New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, the Energy Code Supplement (Town Code Chapter 144 ), and the items listed in Subsection B(14) through (16) below meet the requirements of the Town of Ithaca Code: (1) 911 address number properly posted (with each unit posted); (2) Exterior structure in good repair; (3) Entrances, access areas, parking spaces and similar areas in good repair; (4) Receptacles for proper storage of garbage; (5) Compliant pools and decks (if present); (6) Working smoke and carbon monoxide detectors; (7) Interior structure in good repair; (8) Fire separation (where required); (9) Electrical, plumbing and heating in good repair; (10) Appliances in good repair (if supplied by landlord); (11) Proper light and ventilation; (12) Proper room sizes; (13) Proper egress doors or windows; (14) Compliant off-street parking, per Town of Ithaca Code Chapter 270 (Zoning), § 270-227 ; (15) Compliant number of occupants/families, per Town of Ithaca Code Chapter 270 (Zoning), § 270-5's definition of "family" and occupancy requirements in the relevant zoning district; and (16) Exterior property areas are not in violation of Town of Ithaca Code Chapter 205 (Property Maintenance), § 205-2 . C. A Code Enforcement Officer shall seek a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction whenever the owner, managing agent or occupant fails to allow inspections of any premises believed to be subject to this article and where there is a reasonable cause to believe that there is a violation of this article, Town of Ithaca Code Chapter 205 (Property Maintenance), Town of Ithaca Code Zoning Chapter provisions related to parking or number of occupants/families, the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, or the Energy Code Supplement (Town Code Chapter 144 ). D. Owners of residential rental dwelling units that are rented as of the effective date of this Chapter 270 , Article I , must apply for operating permits for the rental units by November 1, 2018. Owners of residential rental dwelling units that are not rented as of the effective date of this article but that are subsequently rented must apply for operating permits prior to rental occupancy. E. Failure of an owner of any residential rental dwelling unit that is required to have an operating permit to apply for an operating permit in a timely manner, to obtain an operating permit after inspection, or to maintain a valid operating permit after it is granted throughout the period of rental occupancy shall be deemed a violation of this article, and a Code Enforcement Officer may order that such rental unit(s) be vacated within a specified time after notice of violation, unless the property is brought into compliance within a reasonable time frame as specified in the notice of violation. If a violation persists beyond the time frame specified in the notice of violation, and the property is ordered vacated, the property must be kept vacated until it is brought into compliance. F. Over-occupancy. Verified over-occupancy shall constitute a violation of the operating permit. After the issuance of an order to remedy, the property owner shall have 30 days to comply with applicable occupancy limits.
Under Ithaca (Town) Code ch. 207 § 207-2, residential rental units must hold a valid operating permit before tenants occupy them. The permit is issued by the Code Enforcement Department only after an inspection confirms the property meets New York State fire, building, and energy codes, as well as specific Town of Ithaca standards covering safety systems, structural condition, parking, occupancy limits, and exterior maintenance. Units that are rented both short-term and long-term must satisfy permit requirements under both this chapter and the Town's short-term rental rules. Owners who fail to obtain or maintain a valid permit risk a vacate order, and verified over-occupancy can trigger a 30-day order to remedy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Chapter 207 § 207-2 requires rental property owners to hold a valid operating permit at all times during occupancy. Compliant operators apply before a unit is first rented, schedule the Code Enforcement Department inspection, and ensure all 16 checklist items—covering safety devices, structural integrity, egress, parking, and occupancy limits—are met. Owners who receive a notice of violation generally act within the specified timeframe to avoid a vacate order, and those cited for over-occupancy have 30 days after an order to remedy to come into compliance.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 207-2 of the Town of Ithaca Code gives tenants an interest in knowing whether their unit holds a valid operating permit, since a landlord's failure to obtain or maintain one can result in a vacate order affecting occupancy. If a tenant believes their unit lacks a required permit or has uninspected conditions—such as faulty smoke detectors, inadequate egress, or over-occupancy—they may contact the Town's Code Enforcement Department to inquire about permit status or report a potential violation. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Ithaca housing rules can help residents understand what options are generally 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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