Middletown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 296 § 296-9
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
A. Any person who shall violate any of the provisions of § 296-8 shall, for each and every offense, be deemed guilty of a violation and, upon conviction thereof, shall be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250 or shall be imprisoned not less than five days nor more than 15 days, or may be both fined and imprisoned. B. Any person who sells or rents the housing accommodations or land in question to anyone other than the complainant after notice that a complaint of discrimination has been filed against such person shall, upon conviction of a violation under such complaint, be fined not less than $100 nor more than $250 or shall be imprisoned not less than five days nor more than 15 days, or may be both fined and imprisoned. C. Upon conviction of a violation under this article, a violator may, after application to a court of competent jurisdiction, be ordered to make available to the complainant the premises involved.
Section 296-9 of Middletown, N.Y.'s Code of Ordinances establishes criminal penalties for violations of the local anti-discrimination housing rules set out in § 296-8. A person found guilty of such a violation may be fined between $100 and $250, imprisoned for five to fifteen days, or both, for each offense. Additionally, if someone sells or rents a disputed property to a third party after being notified that a discrimination complaint has been filed against them, they face the same range of fines and imprisonment. A court may also order a convicted violator to make the premises available to the original complainant.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Middletown, N.Y. should be aware that § 296-9 attaches criminal consequences—fines of $100–$250 per offense, potential imprisonment, or both—to violations of the fair-housing conduct rules in § 296-8. Compliant operators generally refrain from renting or selling a property to any other party once they have received notice that a discrimination complaint has been filed against them regarding that property. Courts handling convictions under this article also have authority to order that the premises be made available to the complainant, making the stakes of non-compliance extend well beyond monetary fines.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
If you believe a housing provider in Middletown, N.Y. has discriminated against you in violation of § 296-8, § 296-9 provides that a convicted violator can face fines, imprisonment, or both, and a court may order the landlord to make the disputed premises available to you. Tenants generally have the option of filing a formal discrimination complaint through the appropriate local or state channel, which also triggers protections against the landlord renting or selling the property to someone else while the complaint is pending. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid office can help you understand the complaint process and what remedies under § 296-9 may be relevant to your situation.
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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