Oswego, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-40
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 with generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements and cellars shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. From May 1 to October 1, entrances to residential buildings shall be provided with self-closing type devices or screens, and windows and other openings used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened. Screens shall not be required in rooms located sufficiently high in the upper stories of multiple residences as to be free mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects.
Oswego Code ch. 149 § 149-40 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, with extermination methods following generally accepted practices. Basement and cellar openings must be screened with wire mesh or similar materials wherever rodent or vermin infestation is a risk. Between May 1 and October 1, residential building entrances must have self-closing devices or screens, and ventilation openings must be screened, though upper-story rooms high enough to be free of flying insects are exempt from the window-screening requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Oswego Code ch. 149 § 149-40 generally maintain a documented pest-control program using accepted extermination methods and inspect basement and cellar openings to ensure wire mesh or equivalent screening is in place wherever infestation risk exists. Compliant operators also install and maintain self-closing devices or screens on residential entrances and screen ventilation openings each year before May 1, removing or replacing them after October 1 as needed. Keeping records of inspections, screening installations, and pest-control treatments can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with § 149-40.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Oswego Code ch. 149 § 149-40, tenants in residential buildings have an interest in premises that are free from insect, vermin, and rodent infestation, with properly screened openings and self-closing entrance devices in place during the May 1–October 1 season. If these conditions are not being met, tenants may document the issues with photographs and written notices to the landlord, and can consider filing a complaint with the City of Oswego's code enforcement office, which oversees compliance with ch. 149. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Oswego housing code can help residents understand the range of options available when a § 149-40 violation is suspected.
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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