Potsdam, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 219 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 219-10
Inspections
Operative Text
A. Inspections required. Firesafety and property maintenance inspections of buildings and structures shall be performed by the Code Enforcement Officer or an Inspector designated by the Code Enforcement Officer at the following intervals: (1) Firesafety and property maintenance inspections of buildings or structures which contain an area of public assembly shall be performed at least once every 12 months. (2) Firesafety and property maintenance inspections of buildings or structures being occupied as dormitories shall be performed at least once every 12 months. (3) Firesafety and property maintenance inspections of all multiple dwellings not included in Subsection A(1) and (2) of this section, and all nonresidential buildings, structures, uses and occupancies not included in Subsection A(1) and (2) of this section, shall be performed at least once every 36 months. B. Inspections permitted. In addition to the inspections required by Subsection A of this section, a firesafety and property maintenance inspection of any building, structure, use, or occupancy, or of any dwelling unit, may also be performed by the Code Enforcement Officer or an Inspector designated by the Code Enforcement Officer at any time upon: the request of the owner of the property to be inspected or an authorized agent of such owner; receipt by the Code Enforcement Officer of a written statement alleging that conditions or activities failing to comply with the Uniform Code or Energy Code exist; or receipt by the Code Enforcement Officer of any other information, reasonably believed by the Code Enforcement Officer to be reliable, giving rise to reasonable cause to believe that conditions or activities failing to comply with the Uniform Code or Energy Code exist; provided, however, that nothing in this subsection shall be construed as permitting an inspection under any circumstances under which a court order or warrant permitting such inspection is required, unless such court order or warrant shall have been obtained. C. OFPC inspections. (1) Nothing in this section or in any other provision of this chapter shall supersede, limit or impair the powers, duties and responsibilities of the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control ("OFPC") and the New York State Fire Administrator under Executive Law § 156-e and Education Law § 807-b . (a) The Code Enforcement Officer shall not perform firesafety and property maintenance inspections of a building or structure which contains an area of public assembly if OFPC performs firesafety and property maintenance inspections of such building or structure at least once every 12 months; (b) The Code Enforcement Officer shall not perform firesafety and property maintenance inspections of a building or structure occupied as a dormitory if OFPC performs firesafety and property maintenance inspections of such building or structure at least once every 12 months; (c) The Code Enforcement Officer shall not perform firesafety and property maintenance inspections of a multiple dwelling not included in Subsection A(1) and (2) of this section if OFPC performs firesafety and property maintenance inspections of such multiple dwelling at intervals not exceeding the interval specified in this subsection; and (d) The Code Enforcement Officer shall not perform firesafety and property maintenance inspections of a nonresidential building, structure, use or occupancy not included in Subsection A(1) and (2) of this section if OFPC performs firesafety and property maintenance inspections of such nonresidential building, structure, use or occupancy at intervals not exceeding the interval specified in Subsection A of this section. D. Fee. (1) A schedule of fees shall be established by resolution by the Town Board of Potsdam. (2) Fees must be paid prior to or at the time each inspection is performed pursuant to this section. (3) This subsection shall not apply to inspections performed by OFPC.Potsdam, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 219 § 219-10 establishes mandatory schedules for firesafety and property maintenance inspections of buildings within the town. Public assembly spaces and dormitories must be inspected at least annually, while other multiple dwellings and nonresidential buildings must be inspected at least once every three years. Additional inspections may be triggered by an owner's request, a written complaint, or other credible information suggesting code violations, though constitutional protections requiring a court order or warrant remain intact. Where the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control (OFPC) already performs inspections at the required intervals, the local Code Enforcement Officer defers to those inspections rather than duplicating them.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Potsdam, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 219 § 219-10, property owners are subject to periodic firesafety and property maintenance inspections on a schedule that varies by building type — annually for public assembly areas and dormitories, and at least once every 36 months for other multiple dwellings and nonresidential structures. Compliant operators typically ensure that inspection fees established by the Town Board are paid prior to or at the time of each inspection, and they maintain records of prior inspections to track when the next one is due. Owners may also proactively request an inspection through the Code Enforcement Officer, and should be aware that OFPC inspections, where applicable, can satisfy the local inspection requirement under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Potsdam, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 219 § 219-10 provides that the buildings where tenants live — particularly multiple dwellings — are subject to regular firesafety and property maintenance inspections by the town's Code Enforcement Officer. If a tenant believes conditions in their building fail to comply with the Uniform Code or Energy Code, a written statement submitted to the Code Enforcement Officer can trigger an additional inspection beyond the scheduled cycle. Tenants who have concerns about code compliance may also consider reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization or housing authority to understand what options are generally available under this provision.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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