Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-13
Official records
Operative Text
A. The Building Inspector shall keep permanent official records of all transactions and activities conducted by him, including all applications received, permits and certificates issued, fees charged and collected, inspection reports and notices and orders issued. All such records shall be public records, open to public inspection during business hours. B. The Building Inspector shall annually submit to the Mayor a written report and summary of all business conducted by his office. C. All inspections and maintenance reports required to be furnished to the City of Schenectady by the laws and regulations of New York State or the Code of the City of Schenectady which are related to the inspection of commercial buildings shall be electronically forwarded to the City of Schenectady in a manner specified by the Mayor or her or his designee. This requirement shall take effect on January 1, 2015.
Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 167 § 167-13 establishes that the Building Inspector must maintain permanent public records of all permitting, inspection, and enforcement activity, and make those records available for public inspection during business hours. The Inspector is also required to submit an annual written report to the Mayor summarizing the office's work. Additionally, inspection and maintenance reports related to commercial buildings that are required by New York State law or the City Code must be submitted electronically to the City in a format the Mayor or a designee specifies, a requirement that took effect January 1, 2015.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 167-13, property owners and managers dealing with commercial buildings should be aware that inspection and maintenance reports required by state law or the City Code must be submitted to the City of Schenectady electronically, in the format specified by the Mayor or designee. Compliant operators typically confirm the current electronic submission format with the Building Inspector's office before filing required reports. Because all permits, certificates, inspection reports, and notices are permanent public records open to inspection, operators generally maintain their own copies of submitted documents for reference.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 167-13 gives the public the right to inspect the Building Inspector's official records — including inspection reports, notices, and orders — during normal business hours, which can be a useful resource for tenants researching the history of a property. If a tenant wants to review records related to a specific building, they can visit the Building Inspector's office during business hours to request access to those public documents. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Schenectady's housing code can help explain how to interpret inspection records or how those records might be relevant to a housing concern.
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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