Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-67
Access to premises
Operative Text
A. The chief officer or his designated representative, upon presenting himself for the purpose of making an inspection, shall exhibit proper identification and state the purpose of his business on the premises. The chief officer or his designated representative, with the permission of either the owner, operator, agent or occupant thereof, is then authorized to enter, examine and survey the dwelling, dwelling unit or premises in the discharge of his official duties. The inspection shall be made in such a manner so as to cause the least possible inconvenience to the persons in possession thereof. B. The owner, operator, agent or occupant may refuse entry at the time the request is made by the chief officer or his designated representative, however, should permission to enter and make inspection be not granted within 10 days thereafter, the chief officer shall enforce entry according to the laws pertaining thereto. C. Every occupant of a dwelling, dwelling unit or premises shall give the owner or his operator, agent or employee access to any part of the said dwelling, dwelling unit or premises at any reasonable hour for the purpose of making repairs or alterations which are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this code or any lawful order issued pursuant thereto.
Rensselaer, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 121 § 121-67 establishes the rules governing official and owner access to residential dwellings. A city inspection official must show identification and explain the purpose of a visit before entering, and entry requires permission from an owner, operator, agent, or occupant — though if permission is withheld for more than 10 days, the official may pursue lawful means to compel entry. Separately, occupants are required to allow owners, operators, agents, or employees into the dwelling at reasonable hours when access is needed to make repairs or alterations necessary for code compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 121-67, compliant property owners and operators generally ensure that any authorized representative who enters a dwelling for inspection purposes carries proper identification and clearly states the reason for the visit, minimizing disruption to occupants. When access is needed to perform repairs or alterations required by the code, owners and their agents typically schedule entry at reasonable hours and communicate the purpose to the occupant in advance. Maintaining clear records of access requests and repair work can help demonstrate ongoing compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 121-67 gives occupants the right to refuse entry to a city inspection official at the time of the initial request, though that refusal can only last up to 10 days before the official may seek lawful means to enter. Tenants should be aware that this same provision also requires them to allow owner or owner-representative access at reasonable hours when repairs or alterations are needed for code compliance. Tenants who believe their rights under § 121-67 have not been respected may wish to contact a local tenant-rights organization or consult with a housing attorney to understand available options.
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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