Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-75
Power to act in emergency
Operative Text
The Commissioner of Buildings shall issue an order directing the owner of a multiple dwelling classified as having a chronic history of violations to take necessary action to abate any hazardous or dangerous conditions within 24 hours. If the owner fails to take such action within the time period specified, the Commissioner may proceed to take the steps necessary to abate the danger or hazard, and the expense of such abatement plus a service charge of 50% of the expense shall be charged to the owner and recoverable by action of the Corporation Counsel.
Under Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-75, when a multiple dwelling has been classified as having a chronic history of violations, the Commissioner of Buildings can order the property owner to address hazardous or dangerous conditions within 24 hours. If the owner does not act within that window, the city itself may step in to eliminate the hazard. The full cost of that city-performed abatement, plus a 50% surcharge on top of those costs, is then charged to the owner and may be recovered through legal action by the Corporation Counsel.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of multiple dwellings with a chronic violation history should be aware that under ch. 149 § 149-75, the Commissioner of Buildings can issue a 24-hour emergency abatement order. Compliant operators generally respond immediately to any such order, document all remediation steps taken, and retain records of completed work. Failure to act within the specified timeframe can result in the city performing the abatement and billing the owner for the full expense plus a 50% service charge, recoverable through a legal action.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 149-75 of the Mount Vernon Code gives tenants in chronically non-compliant multiple dwellings a meaningful protection: the city can compel emergency action on hazardous conditions within 24 hours and can step in directly if the owner does not comply. Tenants who observe dangerous conditions may consider reporting them to the Commissioner of Buildings to trigger this emergency authority. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help residents understand how this provision interacts with other housing remedies available under local and state law.
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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