Rochester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-42
Revocation of business permit (Rochester NY Property Code)
Operative Text
A. The Commissioner, after a hearing has been conducted, shall have the authority to revoke a business permit pursuant to this Code for a violation by the business permit holder, his or her agents or employees of any provision of this article that would provide a basis for denying a business permit. B. The Commissioner may revoke, without a hearing, the business permit of any person found guilty of either two or more high-level violations, as determined by and listed in § 10-12 of the City of Rochester Charter, occurring on separate occasions during any period of one year, or five or more violations occurring within a period of two years. Nothing herein shall prevent the Commissioner from revoking a business permit of any person on written charges and an opportunity for a hearing thereon.
Rochester City Code § 90-42 establishes two pathways under which a business permit related to rental housing can be revoked. Under the first pathway, the Commissioner may revoke a permit after a hearing when a permit holder, their agents, or employees violate any provision of the article that would have been grounds for denying the permit in the first place. Under the second pathway, the Commissioner may revoke a permit without a prior hearing when a permit holder has been found guilty of two or more high-level violations on separate occasions within one year, or five or more violations within two years, as defined by § 10-12 of the Rochester City Charter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Rochester's business permit requirements under § 90-42 should be aware that permit revocation can occur either through a formal hearing process or, in cases involving repeated serious violations, without a prior hearing. Compliant operators generally maintain records demonstrating that they, their agents, and employees adhere to all provisions of the article, since any violation that could have blocked permit issuance may also serve as grounds for revocation. Operators who accumulate two or more high-level violations within a year, or five or more violations within two years, face the possibility of summary revocation under § 90-42(B), making ongoing compliance tracking a standard practice among responsible permit holders.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants living in properties subject to Rochester's business permit system, § 90-42 provides a meaningful enforcement mechanism: a landlord's permit can be revoked when violations of the housing code are serious or repeated. Tenants who observe ongoing violations may find it useful to document those conditions and report them to the appropriate city authority, as a pattern of high-level violations can trigger revocation proceedings under § 90-42(B) without requiring a formal hearing. Tenant-rights organizations in Rochester can help residents understand how permit revocation intersects with their housing situation and what options may be available to them.
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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