Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-190

Commencement of proceedings; default judgments

In Force
Verified 10/12/2026 · Next check 11/11/2026
SyracuseInspections, Registration & Licensing

Operative Text

Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-190
(a) The bureau shall conduct the proceedings authorized by Local Law No. 9-2017 in accordance with Section 384 of the New York State General Municipal Law and with the rules promulgated by the director.
(b) Such proceedings shall be commenced by the service of a notice of violation ticket. The notice of violation ticket or copy thereof when filled in and served shall constitute notice of the violation charged, and if sworn to or affirmed, shall be prima facie evidence of the facts contained therein. The notice of violation ticket when sworn to or affirmed shall constitute the testimony of the signator and, when filed with the bureau shall be admitted into evidence as such testimony at any hearing on the violation charged. If the respondent disputes the facts stated in the notice of violation, the administrative law judge, where appropriate may reject the signator's facts, accept facts the respondent offers, or direct the signator's appearance. Every such notice of violation ticket shall state whether the facts set forth therein are known personally to the signator and if the facts are not so known the notice of violation ticket shall specifically identify the source of knowledge of such facts. If the respondent disputes the facts stated in the notice of violation ticket, the administrative law judge, where appropriate may reject the signator's facts, accept facts the respondent offers, or direct the signator's appearance.
(c) Content of the notice of violation.
(1) The form and wording of the notice of violation ticket shall be prescribed by the director. The notice of violation ticket shall contain information advising the person charged of the manner and the time in which such person may either admit or deny the violation charged in the notice. Such notice of violation ticket shall also contain a warning to advise the person charged that failure to plead in the manner and time stated in the notice may result in a default decision and order being entered against such person. The original or a copy of the notice of violation ticket shall be filed and retained by the bureau and shall be deemed a record kept in the ordinary course of business.
(2) Every notice of violation ticket shall identify the provision of law charged and shall set forth the factual basis for the violation. Where a notice of violation ticket does not contain this information, it shall be dismissed at the request of the respondent or the administrative law judge may dismiss the notice of violation upon his or her own motion.
(d) Service of the notice of violation ticket. A notice of violation ticket shall be served personally upon the owner of the property or served upon "a person of suitable age and discretion" at the owner's actual place of business, dwelling place or usual place of abode and then mailed to the owner's "last known residence." If service of the notice of violation ticket cannot be made after a showing of due diligence then the notice can be affixed to the door of one of the above named places and a copy of the notice of violation shall be mailed to the owner's last known residence except that:
(1) Service of the notice of violation ticket may be made by delivering such notice to a person employed by the person charged: (a) To work on the premises the occupancy of which caused such violation; (b) At the premises at which the person charged actually conducts the business the operation of which gave rise to the violation; (c) At the site of the work with respect to which the violation occurred; or (d) at the place where the violation occurred.
(2) Service of a notice of violation ticket may be made by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(3) Service of a notice of violation ticket may be made by first class mail.
(4) Service of the notice of violation ticket upon a corporation shall be made by serving the secretary of state or by serving an officer of the corporation or any other agent authorized by appointment or by law to receive service or pursuant to subsection (d)(1) of this section, pursuant to the provisions of New York State Business Corporation Law and the New York State Limited Liability Company Law.
(e) Failure to plead. Where a respondent has failed to plead within the time allowed by controlling law or, if there is no such controlling law, by the rules of the bureau, or has failed to appear on a designated hearing date or a subsequent date following an adjournment, such failure to plead or appear shall be deemed, for all purposes, to be an admission of liability and shall be grounds for rendering a default decision and order imposing a penalty up to the maximum amount prescribed under law for the violation charged. A default decision and order may be opened within one year of its entry upon written application showing excusable default and a defense to the charge; a default decision and order may thereafter be opened in the discretion of the director only upon written application showing excusable default, a defense to the charge, and good cause for the delay.
(f) Final order of the bureau.
(1) Any final order of the bureau imposing a civil penalty, whether the adjudication was had by hearing or upon default or otherwise, shall constitute a judgment rendered by the bureau against the respondent which may be entered in the city court or other equivalent court of the municipality, or any other place provided for the entry of civil judgments within the state, and may be enforced against the respondent and his, her or its property without court proceedings in the same manner as the enforcement of money judgments entered in civil actions; provided however that no such judgment shall be entered which exceeds the jurisdiction of such city court or other court that would have jurisdiction over the matter.
(2) Notwithstanding the foregoing provision, before a judgment based upon a default may be so entered the bureau must have notified the respondent by first class mail in such form as the director may require; (a) of the default decision and order and the penalty imposed; (b) that a judgment may be entered in the city court or other equivalent court of the municipality or any other place provided for the entry of civil judgments within the state of New York; and (c) that entry of such judgment may be avoided by requesting a stay of default for good cause shown and either requesting a hearing or entering a plea pursuant to the rules of the bureau within thirty (30) days of the mailing of such notice.
(3) The bureau shall not enter any final decision or order unless the notice of violation ticket shall have been served in the same manner as is prescribed for service of process by Article 3 of the New York Civil Practice Law and Rules or Article 3 of the New York State Business Corporation Law or Article 3 of the New York State Limited Liability Company Law, except that: (a) service of a notice of violation ticket may be made by delivering such notice to a person employed by the respondent (1) to work on the premises the occupancy of which caused such violation, or (2) at the premises at which the respondent actually conducts the business the operation of which gave rise to the violation, or (3) at the site of the work with respect to which the violation occurred, or (4) at the place at which the violation occurred; (b) service of a notice of violation ticket may be made by certified mail, return receipt requested.
(4) Where any final decision or order may not be entered and enforced as a judgment because the amount of civil penalty exceeds the jurisdictional amount of city court or other equivalent court of the municipality, with respect to actions and proceedings for the recovery of money, such decision or order may be enforced by the commencement of an action or proceeding for the recovery of such civil penalties in a court of competent jurisdiction by the municipality.
(g) Proof of service. Proof of service shall be filed with the bureau and, where service is made by certified mail pursuant to subsection (f)(2) of this section, shall include the return receipt evidencing receipt of notice served by mail. Service shall be complete ten (10) days after such filing.
(h) Dismissal for lack of proper service. Where service of the notice of violation ticket is not made in a manner authorized by law for the violation charged, it shall be dismissed at the request of the respondent or the administrative law judge may dismiss the notice of violation upon his or her own motion.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 13 § 27-190 establishes the procedural framework by which the city's bureau initiates and resolves housing-code enforcement proceedings. Enforcement begins when a notice of violation ticket is served on a property owner, and that ticket—if sworn or affirmed—serves as prima facie evidence of the alleged violation. Owners who do not respond within the required timeframe may have a default judgment entered against them, which can ultimately be converted into an enforceable civil judgment in city court.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 1, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 13 § 27-190, property owners who receive a notice of violation ticket are expected to respond—either admitting or denying the violation—within the time period stated on the ticket. Compliant operators generally track all incoming notices carefully, respond before any stated deadline, and retain copies of all correspondence with the bureau. Failing to plead or appear is treated as an admission of liability, and the resulting default order can be entered as a civil judgment enforceable against the owner and their property.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

While Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 13 § 27-190 primarily governs proceedings against property owners, tenants may find it relevant when a landlord has received a notice of violation related to their unit. If a violation ticket was not properly served or does not identify the specific legal provision and factual basis for the charge, the provision allows for dismissal—either at the respondent's request or by the administrative law judge. Tenants who believe their landlord has unresolved violations may consider contacting the bureau directly or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand how these proceedings may affect their housing situation.

General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.

Generated October 1, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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