Schenectady, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 210 § 210-16
Enforcement
Operative Text
The City of Schenectady shall have a choice of enforcing this chapter by seeking civil penalties or by instituting a criminal proceeding or may choose to do both. A. Criminal proceeding. A summons or appearance ticket for any violation of this chapter may be served in the County of Schenectady, New York as defined within the meaning of New York Criminal Procedure Law § 150.40 . In the event that the owner does not reside in the County of Schenectady, then the owner shall be obligated to designate a managing agent, who maintains a bona fide residence in the County of Schenectady. B. A designating managing agent of an owner may be served with a notice of violation, order of remedy, order of violation, an appearance ticket or other service of process, whether criminal or civil, pursuant to and subject to the provisions of law as if actually served upon the owner. C. No owner who designates a managing agent pursuant to the provisions of this chapter may assert the defense of lack of notice or lack of in personam jurisdiction based solely upon the service of process upon his designated agent. D. Nothing contained in this section shall limit the discretion of the Building Inspector or Corporation Counsel from seeking an arrest warrant from a Court of competent jurisdiction where permitted by law and as the circumstances may require.
Section 210-16 of Schenectady's Code of Ordinances (ch. 210) gives the City of Schenectady the authority to pursue violations of its housing chapter through civil penalties, criminal proceedings, or both simultaneously. When a property owner does not live within Schenectady County, the law requires that owner to designate a local managing agent who can receive legal notices and process on the owner's behalf. Service on that designated agent carries the same legal weight as service on the owner directly, and an owner who has named such an agent cannot later claim they were never properly notified.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 210-16, property owners who reside outside Schenectady County are generally expected to designate a managing agent who maintains a bona fide residence within the county, ensuring there is always a locally reachable point of contact for legal notices. Compliant operators typically keep this designation current and ensure their agent is aware of the responsibility to accept service of civil or criminal process. Because service on a designated agent is treated as service on the owner, owners who have made such a designation cannot raise lack of notice as a defense if a violation proceeding is initiated.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 210-16 establishes that the City of Schenectady has broad enforcement tools available for housing code violations, including both civil and criminal proceedings, which means violations of ch. 210 are not limited to fines alone. Tenants who believe their landlord is violating the housing chapter may contact the City's Building Inspector's office, which has authority under this provision to pursue enforcement action. Tenant-rights organizations in the Schenectady area can help residents understand how the local enforcement process works and what options may be available when housing code concerns arise.
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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