Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-61
Responsibilities of occupants
Operative Text
Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards in this chapter in regard to the following: A. Limiting occupancy of that part of the premises which the occupant occupies or controls to the maximum permitted by this chapter. B. Maintenance of that part of the premises which the occupant occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition. C. Maintenance of all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage facilities in that part of the premises which the occupant occupies or controls, in a clean and sanitary condition, and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof. D. Keeping exits from the occupant's dwelling unit clear and unencumbered. E. Disposal of garbage and refuse into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner. F. Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within the occupant's dwelling unit if his unit is the only one infested in the premises. G. Hanging and removing required screens. H. Keeping his domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control.
Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-61 places a set of housing-maintenance responsibilities directly on the people who live in a dwelling unit, rather than solely on the property owner. These responsibilities cover keeping the occupied space clean, safe, and within permitted occupancy limits; properly using and maintaining plumbing, cooking, and refrigeration equipment; keeping exits clear; disposing of garbage properly; controlling pests when only that unit is affected; managing screens; and keeping pets under control. The rule reflects a shared-responsibility model in which tenants, not just landlords, can be held accountable for conditions within the space they occupy or control.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-61, compliant property operators typically document occupancy limits clearly in lease agreements and communicate to residents that they bear direct responsibility for cleanliness, safe use of appliances, exit clearance, refuse disposal, and pest control within their own units. Operators generally retain records showing that required facilities—such as garbage receptacles and window screens—were provided, since the ordinance assigns occupant duties only with respect to facilities that have already been furnished. Knowing which obligations shift to occupants under this section can help operators distinguish between landlord-side code violations and those attributable to resident conduct during any inspection or enforcement proceeding.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Mount Vernon Code ch. 149 § 149-61 establishes that tenants are directly responsible for conditions within the portion of the premises they occupy or control, including cleanliness, appliance care, exit clearance, garbage disposal, pest extermination (when only their unit is infested), screens, and pet management. Tenants who receive a code-enforcement notice related to these occupant duties may wish to review whether the cited condition falls within the scope of § 149-61 or whether it is actually a landlord obligation under another part of ch. 149. Tenant-rights organizations in Westchester County and the Mount Vernon housing enforcement office can be useful starting points for understanding how these responsibilities are interpreted and enforced locally.
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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