Manchester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 252 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 252-16
General responsibilities of owners and occupants
Operative Text
A. Owners of premises, including single-family dwellings, shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor, regardless of the fact that this chapter may place certain responsibility on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume responsibility. Owners of premises shall be responsible for maintenance of the premises in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. B. Owners and or occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter in regard to the following: (1) Maintenance of that part of the premises which they occupy and control in a clean, safe and sanitary condition in compliance with this chapter and the New York State Department of Health rules and regulations and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code. (2) Keeping all exits and passageways from the dwelling unit clean and unencumbered. (3) Disposal of garbage and refuse into refuse containers in a clean and sanitary manner. All exterior property and premises and the interior of every structure shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage which shall be removed to an appropriate solid waste facility. (a) The owner of every occupied premises shall provide a sufficient supply and maintain a sufficient supply of approved, covered, leakproof containers for rubbish, and or garbage, and the owner of the premises shall be responsible for the removal of such rubbish or garbage.
Manchester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 252 § 252-16 establishes that property owners bear ultimate responsibility for keeping premises clean, safe, and sanitary — even when operators or occupants share some of those duties and even when private agreements shift responsibility to another party. Occupants, in turn, are responsible for maintaining the portions of a dwelling they occupy and control, keeping exits and passageways clear, and disposing of garbage properly. Owners must supply and maintain adequate covered, leakproof refuse containers and arrange for the removal of rubbish and garbage from the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Manchester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 252 § 252-16, compliant property owners generally ensure that the entire premises — including common areas and exterior grounds — are kept clean, safe, and sanitary regardless of what any lease or management agreement says about tenant responsibilities. Operators typically provide a sufficient number of approved, covered, leakproof refuse containers and arrange for regular garbage and rubbish removal to an appropriate solid waste facility. Owners also generally verify that exits and passageways remain unobstructed and that the property meets applicable New York State Department of Health rules and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Manchester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 252 § 252-16 gives occupants a defined set of responsibilities within the areas they occupy and control, including keeping those spaces clean and sanitary, maintaining clear exits and passageways, and disposing of garbage into the owner-supplied containers in a sanitary manner. At the same time, the provision makes clear that owners retain ultimate responsibility for overall property conditions, meaning tenants who observe unaddressed maintenance or sanitation problems may have grounds to raise a violation of this chapter. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet these obligations can explore options such as contacting the local code enforcement office, raising the violation as a defense in relevant proceedings, or reaching out to a tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation