Rochester, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 90 § 90-65
Database for properties (Rochester NY Property Code)
Operative Text
A. The City shall maintain a database, accessible to the public, of all residential properties where lead hazards have been identified, reduced and controlled with funds received by the City from the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development which require that such a database be maintained. The City shall further maintain a database of all residential properties granted a certificate of occupancy after the effective date of this article. B. The databases created pursuant to this section shall be kept available for "walk- in" inspection by the public. No person requesting access shall be required to complete a freedom of information request in order to view this database.
Rochester City Code § 90-65 requires the City of Rochester to maintain two publicly accessible databases related to residential properties: one listing properties where lead hazards have been identified and addressed using HUD funding, and another listing properties that received a certificate of occupancy after the article's effective date. Both databases must be available for in-person, walk-in inspection by any member of the public. No one seeking to view these records is required to submit a formal Freedom of Information request to gain access.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 90-65, property owners and managers should be aware that information about lead hazard remediation work funded through HUD, as well as certificate-of-occupancy records, is part of a publicly accessible city database. Compliant operators generally keep their own records of any lead remediation work performed and certificates of occupancy issued, since this information may appear in the City's database and be viewed by prospective tenants or buyers without any formal request process. Understanding what is recorded in these databases can help operators respond accurately to inquiries about a property's history.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 90-65 gives members of the public, including tenants, the right to walk into the appropriate City of Rochester office and view databases showing which residential properties have had lead hazards identified and remediated with HUD funds, as well as which properties have received certificates of occupancy. No Freedom of Information request is required, making this information relatively straightforward to access. Tenants concerned about a property's lead history or occupancy status may consult these databases as a starting point, and tenant-rights organizations in Rochester can help interpret what the records mean.
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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