Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 165 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 165-14
Complaint by tenants; retaliatory actions
Operative Text
A. Unless there are significant health or safety issues, if the property has a valid rental permit, a tenant must first complain to the owner or agent of the property. Forms for that purpose may be obtained from the Code Enforcement Office; however, there is no obligation for a tenant to use such forms. B. If the complaint is not addressed within seven calendar days, the tenant may schedule an inspection appointment with the Code Enforcement Officer, who shall give reasonable advance notice to the owner's agent. If violations are found, an inspection fee in accordance with § 165-11 shall be charged. C. No person shall institute or maintain an action for eviction because the occupant has reported a violation of this chapter or a related provision of the Village Code to the Code Enforcement Officer or other Village employee. D. No person shall cause any service, facility, equipment or utility required under this chapter to be removed, shut off or discontinued in retaliation for a complaint.
Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 165 § 165-14 establishes a complaint process for rental housing conditions and protects tenants from retaliation. Unless significant health or safety concerns exist, tenants are generally expected to bring complaints to the property owner or agent first, and may escalate to the Code Enforcement Officer if the issue goes unresolved after seven calendar days. The provision also prohibits any person from pursuing eviction or cutting off required services, facilities, or utilities as a response to a tenant's complaint to code enforcement or other Village employees.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 165-14, property owners and managers operating with a valid rental permit are expected to respond to tenant complaints within seven calendar days to avoid triggering a formal Code Enforcement inspection, which carries a fee under § 165-11. Compliant operators typically maintain open channels for receiving tenant concerns and document their responses to show timely action. Critically, § 165-14 bars any retaliatory eviction action or discontinuation of required services against a tenant who has filed a complaint with the Code Enforcement Officer or another Village employee.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 165-14 of the Johnson City Code gives tenants a structured path for addressing housing condition concerns: start with a written or verbal complaint to the owner or agent (optional forms are available from the Code Enforcement Office), and if the issue is not resolved within seven calendar days, you may schedule an inspection with the Code Enforcement Officer. The provision also provides meaningful protections — no one may initiate eviction proceedings or remove required services against you because you reported a violation under this chapter. If you believe retaliatory action has been taken against you, tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney familiar with § 165-14 can help you 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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation