Rye, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 108 § 108-40
Infestation and screening
Operative Text
A. Grounds, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insect, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform to generally accepted practice. B. Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements and cellars shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials. C. From May 1 to October 1, entrances to residential buildings shall be provided with self-closing-type devices or screens, and windows and other openings used for ventilation shall be appropriately screened. Screens shall not be required in rooms located sufficiently high in the upper stories of multiple dwellings as to be free of mosquitoes, flies and other flying insects.
Rye, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 108 § 108-40 establishes that all grounds, buildings, and structures must be kept free of insects, vermin, and rodents, with extermination methods following generally accepted practices. Basement and cellar openings must be screened with wire mesh or similar materials wherever rodent or vermin infestation is a risk. Between May 1 and October 1, residential building entrances must have self-closing devices or screens, and ventilation openings must be screened, though upper-story rooms high enough to be free of flying insects are exempt from the window-screening requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Rye, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 108 § 108-40 generally maintain a documented pest-control program that uses accepted extermination methods and keeps all areas of the property free of harborage conditions. Compliant operators install wire mesh or equivalent screening on basement and cellar openings where infestation risk exists, and each spring before May 1 they ensure that residential entrances are equipped with functioning self-closing devices or screens and that ventilation openings are properly screened. Keeping records of inspections, pest-control service visits, and screen installations or repairs 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.
Under Rye, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 108 § 108-40, tenants have a right to live in a dwelling that is free of insect, vermin, and rodent infestation, with properly screened openings and self-closing entrance devices in place during the May 1–October 1 season. If these conditions are not being maintained, tenants may document the problem with photographs and written communications to the landlord, and may consider filing a complaint with the City of Rye's code enforcement or housing inspection office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Westchester County housing codes can help explain available options, including how a violation of this provision might be raised in a housing proceeding.
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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