Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-44
Records and searches
Operative Text
All records of the Code Enforcement Agency shall be public. Upon request, the Agency shall be required to make a search and issue a certificate as to any of its records, including violations, and shall have the power to charge and collect reasonable fees for such searches or certificates.
Under Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-44, all records held by the Code Enforcement Agency are designated as public records. When someone requests a search of those records—including records of any violations—the Agency is obligated to conduct the search and issue a certificate documenting its findings. The Agency is permitted to charge a reasonable fee for performing searches or issuing certificates.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under ch. 12 § 12-44, any code enforcement violations associated with a property are part of the public record and can be accessed by prospective buyers, tenants, or lenders upon request. Compliant operators generally stay current on resolving open violations, knowing that outstanding enforcement history is readily discoverable through an official certificate. Maintaining clean records with the Code Enforcement Agency is a standard practice given the transparency this provision requires.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-44 of Poughkeepsie's Code of Ordinances gives tenants the right to request a search of Code Enforcement Agency records for any property, including a full history of violations. This can be a useful step when evaluating a rental unit or understanding whether a landlord has a pattern of code issues. Tenants may contact the Code Enforcement Agency directly to request a certificate of records, and tenant-rights organizations in the area can help explain how that information might be relevant to a housing situation.
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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