Suffern, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 162 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 162-10
Dangerous dwellings
Operative Text
A. All dwellings or parts thereof which have any of the following defects shall be deemed "dangerous dwellings" and shall be condemned as unfit for human habitation: (1) Those whose interior or exterior bearing walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent as to weaken the structural support they provide. (2) Those which, excluding the foundation, show 33% or more of damage or deterioration of the supporting member or members or 50% or more of damage or deterioration of the nonsupporting enclosing or outside walls or covering. (3) Those which have improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used. (4) Those which have been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as no longer to provide shelter from the elements and which have become dangerous to the life, safety, morals or general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of the Village. (5) Those which have become or are so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, vermin-infested or obsolete that they are likely to cause sickness or disease or injury to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of those living therein or of the people at large. (6) Those which lack light, air and sanitation facilities as required by this chapter to protect the health, morals, safety or general welfare of persons living therein. (7) Those which lack the facilities required by this chapter for egress in case of fire or panic or those which have insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of communication required herein. (8) Those having parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure occupants, the public or other property. B. Declaration of nuisance and orders. (1) All dangerous dwellings or parts thereof, within the terms of this chapter, are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be vacated and repaired or demolished. (2) In any case where a dangerous dwelling is 50% or more damaged or decayed or deteriorated from its original structure or where it cannot be repaired so as to comply with the terms of this chapter, it shall be ordered vacated and demolished. Dwellings ordered vacated shall be vacated in accordance with the provisions of § 162-12 .
Section 162-10 of Suffern's Code of Ordinances establishes the criteria by which a dwelling is officially classified as a 'dangerous dwelling' and condemned as unfit for human habitation. The provision covers a broad range of structural, sanitary, and safety deficiencies — from leaning load-bearing walls and fire damage to vermin infestation and inadequate egress — that collectively threaten the health, safety, or welfare of occupants or the general public. Once a dwelling meets any of these criteria, it is declared a public nuisance and must be vacated and either repaired or demolished, with demolition required when damage or deterioration reaches 50% or more of the original structure.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 162-10, property owners in Suffern are generally expected to maintain dwellings free of the structural, sanitary, and safety deficiencies enumerated in the provision, including adequate load-bearing integrity, fire safety, egress, lighting, and sanitation. Compliant operators routinely conduct inspections to identify and remediate conditions such as deteriorating structural members, vermin infestations, or improperly distributed floor loads before they reach the thresholds that trigger a dangerous-dwelling designation. When a property is found to meet the dangerous-dwelling criteria, owners face mandatory vacation orders and may be required to demolish the structure if deterioration exceeds 50% of the original building.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 162-10 gives residents of Suffern a framework for understanding when their dwelling may legally be classified as dangerous and condemned, covering conditions ranging from structural instability and fire damage to lack of sanitation and inadequate fire escapes. Tenants who believe their home meets one or more of the dangerous-dwelling criteria listed in § 162-10 may consider reporting those conditions to the Village's code enforcement authority, which has the power to order repairs, vacation, or demolition. Tenant-rights organizations can help residents understand how a dangerous-dwelling designation under this provision might affect their housing situation and what procedural protections may apply during any vacation or demolition process.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation