Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-69
Recovery of expenses
Operative Text
(a) The expenses incurred pursuant to Sections 12-38 , 12-65 , 12-67 and 12-68 shall be paid by the owner or occupant of the premises or by the person who caused or maintained such nuisance or other matter. The Code Enforcement Agency shall file among its records an affidavit stating, with fairness and accuracy, the items of expense and the date of execution of actions authorized by Sections 12-38 , 12-65 , 12-67 or 12-68 . The head of the Code Enforcement Agency may institute a suit to recover such expenses against any person liable for such expenses or may cause such expenses to be charged against the property as a lien. (b) Except with respect to a lien imposed for expenses incurred in demolition, nothing herein shall be construed as placing a lien upon the property which supersedes the lien of any mortgage on such property executed and recorded prior to the existence of a lien herein authorized.
Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-69 establishes that when the city's Code Enforcement Agency carries out certain remedial or abatement actions under related code sections, the costs of those actions must be paid by the property owner, occupant, or whoever caused the underlying nuisance or condition. The agency is required to document those expenses in an official affidavit and may pursue repayment either by filing a lawsuit against the responsible party or by placing a lien on the property. Any such lien, however, does not take priority over a mortgage that was recorded before the lien arose, except in cases involving demolition expenses.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-69 should be aware that if the Code Enforcement Agency performs abatement or remediation work on a property under the referenced code sections, the resulting costs become the owner's financial responsibility. Compliant operators generally maintain properties proactively to avoid triggering agency action, since the city can recover its expenses through litigation or by attaching a lien to the property. Owners with existing mortgages should note that while most liens under this section do not automatically supersede a prior recorded mortgage, demolition-related expense liens are treated differently.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-69, tenants who occupy a premises where city-ordered remediation costs arise may potentially be held responsible for expenses if they caused or maintained the nuisance or condition that prompted agency action. Tenants who receive any notice related to cost recovery under this section may benefit from reviewing the agency's affidavit, which is required to itemize expenses with fairness and accuracy, to verify the charges. Consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service familiar with Poughkeepsie code enforcement can help tenants understand whether they have grounds to contest liability.
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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