Niagara, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 122 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 122-4
Infestation and screening
Operative Text
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insects, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements, crawl spaces and cellars used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. All exterior openings that are used for ventilation in all occupied rented dwelling units, up to and including the third story, shall have installed therein screening of No. 15 mesh or finer from June 1 to October 1 in each year. In any dwelling where mechanical ventilation is supplied, screens shall only be required in areas using natural ventilation. No screens shall be required in upper stories of any dwellings which are free, due to height, of mosquitoes, flies and other insects. All screens shall be maintained in good condition.
Niagara, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 122 § 122-4 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, with extermination methods following generally accepted practices. Where rodent or vermin infestation is a risk, basement and crawl-space ventilation openings must be screened with wire mesh or similar material. Additionally, all exterior ventilation openings in occupied rental units up to and including the third story must have No. 15 mesh or finer screening installed from June 1 through October 1 each year, with exceptions for mechanically ventilated areas and upper stories naturally free of insects due to height.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Niagara, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 122 § 122-4, compliant property operators generally inspect their buildings regularly for signs of pest activity and arrange extermination using accepted industry methods when needed. They ensure that basement, crawl-space, and cellar ventilation openings are fitted with wire mesh or comparable screening wherever rodent or vermin risk exists. For occupied rental units on the first through third floors, operators typically install No. 15 mesh or finer screens on all exterior ventilation openings before June 1 and keep those screens in good repair through October 1 each year, while noting that mechanically ventilated spaces and upper floors demonstrably free of insects may be exempt.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Niagara, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 122 § 122-4 gives tenants in occupied rental units up to the third floor the right to have properly maintained No. 15 mesh or finer screens on exterior ventilation openings during the June 1–October 1 season, as well as the right to a building kept free of insect, vermin, and rodent infestation. If a rental unit lacks required screening or shows signs of pest infestation, tenants may consider documenting the conditions and reporting them to the appropriate local code enforcement or housing authority in Niagara. Tenant-rights organizations can also help explain available options, such as raising a code violation as part of a housing complaint process.
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.
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