Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-2
Eviction
Operative Text
A special proceeding to evict a tenant from leased premises may be maintained upon the ground that the premises, or any part thereof, have been used or occupied for the purpose of using or possessing illegal drugs. For purposes of this section, the term "tenant," in addition to its ordinary meaning, shall include an occupant of one or more rooms in a rooming house or a resident, not including a transient occupant, of one or more rooms in a hotel who has been in possession for 30 consecutive days or longer.
Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-2 establishes that a landlord may initiate a special legal proceeding to remove a tenant when the leased premises—or any portion of them—have been used or occupied for illegal drug use or possession. The provision broadens the definition of 'tenant' beyond the typical lease-holder to include rooming house occupants and long-term hotel residents who have stayed 30 or more consecutive days. This rule creates a specific eviction ground tied to illegal drug activity on the property, distinct from ordinary lease-violation proceedings.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-2, operators of rental housing—including rooming houses and hotels—who have documented evidence that a unit or any part of the premises has been used for illegal drug activity have a recognized legal basis to pursue a special eviction proceeding. Compliant operators typically maintain thorough records of incidents, law enforcement reports, and any notices provided to occupants before initiating such a proceeding. Because the provision extends to rooming house occupants and hotel residents of 30 or more consecutive days, property managers generally apply the same procedural standards to those occupants as they would to traditional tenants.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ithaca, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-2 means that a tenant—including a rooming house occupant or a hotel resident who has stayed at least 30 consecutive days—can face a special eviction proceeding if the premises are found to have been used for illegal drug activity. If you receive notice of such a proceeding, you generally have the right to respond and present your position before a court. Tenant-rights organizations in Ithaca or a housing attorney can help you understand what procedural protections may apply and what options are available to you.
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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