Oswego, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-67
Powers and duties of City Engineer or authorized representative
Operative Text
A. The City Engineer shall be authorized to conduct surveys of housing in any area of the municipality to determine the condition of premises, extent of deterioration, lack of facilities, inadequate maintenance, unsafe and insanitary conditions, extent of overcrowding, land use and other relevant factors. B. It shall be the duty of the City Engineer, or his authorized representative, the Building Inspector: (1) To cause periodic inspections to be made of all premises within the scope of applicable housing standards. (2) To cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or insanitary conditions. (3) To order, in writing, the remedying of all conditions found to exist in or on any premises in violation of provisions of the housing standards or of rules and regulations adopted by the agency, to state in the violation order a reasonable time limit for compliance therewith and, where necessary, to order the vacation of premises found unfit for human habitation. (4) To request the Corporation Counsel to take appropriate legal action upon failure of the responsible party to comply with such violation order within the time specified therein. (5) To cause a search of the Engineering Department records of housing violations existing on any premises and to issue a certified statement thereof upon receipt of written request and payment of any fees required by local law or ordinance. (6) To study housing conditions in the municipality. (7) To prepare an annual report of housing conditions in the municipality, work of the agency and recommendations for the future. C. Where violations of the housing standards exist and pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare of building occupants or of the public, the City Engineer may issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such municipal agency as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate hazard or danger. Any expenditures incurred by the city under this provision shall be an expense of the property and shall become a lien on the property.
Section 149-67 of Oswego's Code of Ordinances establishes the City Engineer as the primary authority over housing inspections and enforcement within the city. The City Engineer and the Building Inspector are empowered to conduct surveys, investigate complaints, issue written violation orders with compliance deadlines, and order buildings vacated when they are deemed unfit for human habitation. When an immediate hazard exists, the City Engineer may direct emergency action, and any costs the city incurs in doing so become a lien attached to the property itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 149-67, property owners in Oswego should expect that the City Engineer or Building Inspector may conduct periodic inspections of their premises without a specific complaint triggering the visit. When a written violation order is issued, it will include a stated deadline for compliance; failure to meet that deadline can result in the Corporation Counsel pursuing legal action. If the city must intervene to address an immediate hazard on a property, the costs of that intervention become a lien on the property, which can affect title and financing.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 149-67 gives tenants in Oswego a formal channel for reporting unsafe or unsanitary housing conditions: the City Engineer's office is required to investigate all complaints of alleged housing violations. If a violation poses an immediate hazard, the City Engineer has authority to act quickly to remove or abate that danger. Tenants who believe their housing conditions are being ignored may consider contacting the Building Inspector, documenting conditions in writing, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on next steps.
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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