Norwich, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 310 § 310-10
Responsibilities of owners and occupants
Operative Text
A. Every owner of a dwelling containing two or more dwelling units shall be responsible for maintaining in a clean and sanitary condition the shared or public areas of the dwelling and premises thereof. B. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall keep in a clean and sanitary condition that part of the dwelling, dwelling unit and premises thereof which he occupies and controls. C. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his rubbish in a clean and sanitary manner by placing it in the rubbish containers required by § 310-6F of this chapter. D. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall dispose of all his garbage and any other organic waste which might provide food for rodents in a clean and sanitary manner, by placing it in the garbage disposal facilities or garbage storage containers required by § 310-6F of this chapter. It shall be the responsibility of the owner to supply such facilities or containers for all dwelling units. E. Every occupant of a dwelling containing a single dwelling unit shall be responsible for the extermination of any insects, rodents, or other pests therein or on the premises, and every occupant of a dwelling unit in a dwelling containing more than one dwelling unit shall be responsible for such extermination whenever his dwelling unit is the only one infested. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this subsection, whenever infestation is caused by failure of the owner to maintain a dwelling in a rat-proof or reasonably insect-proof condition, extermination shall be the responsibility of the homeowner. Whenever infestation exists in two or more of the dwelling units in any dwelling, or in the shared or public parts of any dwelling containing two or more dwelling units, extermination thereof shall be the responsibility of the owner. F. Every occupant of a dwelling unit shall keep all plumbing fixtures therein in a clean and sanitary condition and shall be responsible for the exercise of reasonable care in the proper use and operation thereof.
Norwich, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 310 § 310-10 divides cleanliness and maintenance responsibilities between property owners and the people who live in their units. Owners of multi-unit dwellings must keep shared and public areas clean and sanitary, supply proper garbage and rubbish containers, and handle pest extermination when infestation spreads to common areas or multiple units, or when the building's condition itself allowed pests to enter. Occupants, in turn, are responsible for keeping their own spaces clean, disposing of trash and organic waste in the designated containers, managing pest control within their individual unit when only their unit is affected, and using plumbing fixtures properly and keeping them sanitary.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 310-10, compliant operators of two-or-more-unit dwellings generally maintain shared hallways, stairwells, and exterior premises in a clean and sanitary state at all times. They also supply adequate rubbish and garbage storage containers as required by § 310-6F, and they take responsibility for pest extermination whenever infestation is found in common areas, in two or more units simultaneously, or whenever the building's structural condition contributed to the infestation. Keeping records of routine cleaning schedules, container maintenance, and pest-control treatments is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating ongoing compliance with § 310-10.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 310-10 establishes that occupants have a right to live in shared areas that the owner keeps clean, and to have proper garbage and rubbish containers supplied by the owner. Tenants who believe an owner is failing to meet these obligations — such as neglecting common-area sanitation or refusing to address a multi-unit pest infestation — may have grounds to raise a violation of § 310-10 with the relevant local code enforcement authority in Norwich, N.Y. Consulting a tenant-rights organization can help occupants understand which enforcement paths, such as filing a complaint with the city or raising the violation as a defense in a housing proceeding, may be available given the circumstances.
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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