Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 166-10
Designation of unfit dwellings and legal procedure of condemnation
Operative Text
The designation of dwellings or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and the procedure for the condemnation and placarding of such unfit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out by the enforcement officer in compliance with the following requirements: A. Generally. Any dwelling or dwelling unit which shall be found to have any of the following defects shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the enforcement officer: (1) Which by reason of its failure to comply with the requirements of this chapter is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin-infested that it creates a hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. (2) One which lacks illumination, ventilation or sanitation required by this chapter so as to adequately protect the health or safety of the occupants or of the public. B. Vacation of premises. Any dwelling or dwelling unit condemned as unfit for human habitation and so designated and placarded by the enforcement officer shall be vacated within such time as ordered by the enforcement officer. C. Removal of defects required. No dwelling or dwelling unit which has been condemned and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from and such placard is removed by the enforcement officer. The enforcement officer shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the condemnation and placarding action are based have been eliminated. D. Defacing or removing placard. No person shall deface or remove the placard from any dwelling or dwelling unit which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such, except as provided in Subsection C . E. Notice of condemnation: hearing. No such dwelling shall be placarded as unfit for human habitation until at least 10 days after written notice of its condemnation has been given by the enforcement officer to the owner and occupants of such dwelling.
Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 § 166-10 establishes the process by which an enforcement officer may officially condemn and placard a dwelling or dwelling unit as unfit for human habitation when it poses health or safety hazards—such as structural decay, infestation, or inadequate ventilation and sanitation. Once condemned, occupants must vacate within the timeframe the enforcement officer specifies, and the property cannot be reoccupied until the officer confirms in writing that all cited defects have been corrected and removes the placard. Before any placard is posted, the owner and occupants must receive at least 10 days' written notice of the condemnation, and the placard itself may not be removed or defaced by anyone other than the enforcement officer.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 § 166-10, property owners who receive a written notice of condemnation have at least 10 days before a placard is posted, which represents a window to address cited defects and engage with the enforcement officer. Compliant operators typically document all remediation work, communicate progress to the enforcement officer, and formally request a written approval and placard removal once every defect identified in the condemnation action has been corrected. Attempting to remove or deface a condemnation placard without the enforcement officer's authorization is itself a violation of § 166-10(D), so owners should work through the official reinspection and approval process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Johnson City, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 166 § 166-10 provides that tenants must receive at least 10 days' written notice before a dwelling is officially placarded as unfit for human habitation, and the enforcement officer sets the timeline for any required vacation of the premises. If a tenant believes their dwelling has conditions that rise to the level of condemnation—such as serious structural decay, vermin infestation, or lack of required ventilation—they may consider contacting the local enforcement officer to request an inspection. Tenants facing displacement due to a condemnation order under § 166-10 may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand what options and protections may be available to them.
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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