Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-97
Responsibilities of property owner to remove graffiti
Operative Text
(a) It is the responsibility of the owner, or his/her agent, of a building or structure which has been defaced without the owner's, or his/her agents, prior written permission by a writing, painting or drawing of any inscription, figure or mark to completely remove said graffiti from the building or structure within 30 days of receipt of written notice of the defacement by the city, said notice having been served in the same manner as provided for the service in compliance with Section 12-34 of this Chapter. (b) Failure of the owner of the building or structure to remove the graffiti within the time allowed after written notice may subject the owner to a fine of not more than $100 for the first offense. Each thirty-day period thereafter shall be deemed a separate offense and shall subject the owner to additional fines not to exceed to $100 for each offense.
Under Poughkeepsie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 12 § 12-97, when a building or structure is defaced by graffiti without the owner's prior written permission, the property owner bears responsibility for removing it. The city may issue written notice of the defacement, and once that notice is received, the owner has 30 days to fully remove the graffiti. Failure to comply within that window can result in a fine of up to $100, with each subsequent 30-day period of non-compliance treated as a separate offense carrying an additional fine of up to $100.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Poughkeepsie should be aware that ch. 12 § 12-97 places the graffiti-removal obligation squarely on the owner, regardless of who caused the defacement. Compliant operators typically monitor their properties for unauthorized markings, act promptly upon receiving any written city notice, and document the completed removal before the 30-day deadline expires. Keeping records of removal efforts and the date notice was received can be important, since each additional 30-day period of non-compliance may be treated as a new, separately fineable offense.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under ch. 12 § 12-97, the duty to remove graffiti from a building or structure falls on the property owner, not the tenant, when the defacement occurred without the owner's written permission. Tenants who observe graffiti on their building and believe the owner is not addressing it may contact the City of Poughkeepsie to report the condition, which can trigger the formal written-notice process described in this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in the Poughkeepsie area can provide general information about how local code-enforcement processes work and what options may be available.
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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