Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 227 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 227-5

A. No rental unit with three or more dwelling units may be occupied without a valid rental certificate. No rental certificate shall be issued until the housing unit has been inspected by a Code Enforcement Official or Building Safety Inspector to determine that the requirements of this article and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code, Property Maintenance Code, and General Code of the Village of Massena have been met. B. Any rental unit with three or more dwelling units that is occupied at the time of the effective date of this article may continue to be occupied, even if substandard, so long as that unit does not constitute an unsafe structure as defined in § 120-4 of the Village Code and/or the New York State Uniform Fire Code. Such units will be issued a provisional rental certificate valid for up to 30 days to allow the property owner to bring the property and all dwelling units therein up to minimal standards. Such provisional rental certificate shall be valid only for the tenants in possession or residence at the time of the effective date of this article. C. Any rental unit with three or more dwelling units that is not occupied at the time of the effective date of this article must obtain an initial rental certificate prior to allowing occupancy by any tenant. D. A rental certificate shall be valid for a period of one year from the date it is issued. Upon the expiration of a rental certificate, an updated and renewed rental certificate must be issued by the Code Enforcement Office. E. Rental units determined to be unsafe according to the provisions of § 120-4 of the Village Code, and/or the New York State Uniform Fire Code, will be designated as an "unsafe structure" as provided by those chapters and must be vacated. The notice to vacate the unit and any expenses resulting from that eviction are the sole responsibility of the property owner. The Village will not issue eviction notices, nor assume any responsibility for relocation or displacement expenses. F. If the unit passes inspection, a rental certificate shall be issued within 10 business days of the date of inspection. If the unit does not pass inspection, a notice of violation and work description shall be issued within 10 business days of the date of the inspection. G. In the event that the Village does not perform the specified action within the time period stated, the previous rental certificate will be considered valid for the time that the tenant in possession or residence at the time of application for certificate remains in possession or residence of the unit in question. H. Landlords or their agents must present the previous rental certificate when applying for a new certificate. Date of the last inspection will be verified from the previous certificate.