Syracuse, N.Y., Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27 § 27-16
Certificate of adequacy
Operative Text
(a) The owner of a one-family or a two-family dwelling may request, from the division, the issuance of a certificate of adequacy, issued in accordance with the provisions herein. The division shall, before accepting the application, fully apprise the applicant orally and in writing of the mechanics of the application process, including the fact that as a result of his/her application, should there be any property deficiencies, either the seller or purchaser must accept the responsibility to make the repairs necessary in order to obtain a certificate of adequacy. (b) The inspection standards that shall be used as the basis for certificate of adequacy inspections are: sections 27-31 general requirements (structural); 27-32 exterior protection; 27-33 (c); chimneys, flues and vents; 27-52 plumbing, (a) general requirements, (b) water supply; 27-54 heating; 27-55 chimneys, flues and gas vents; 27-57 electrical. (c) For purposes of this section, a certificate of adequacy shall be considered current for a period of six (6) months after the date of its issuance, provided it has not been revoked during such period.
Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 2 § 27-16 establishes a voluntary certificate of adequacy program for owners of one- and two-family dwellings in Syracuse. Under this provision, the city's division inspects a property against specific structural, exterior, plumbing, heating, and electrical standards before issuing the certificate. Once issued, the certificate remains valid for six months unless revoked, and any deficiencies discovered during the process must be corrected by either the seller or the purchaser before the certificate can be obtained.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Owners of one- or two-family dwellings who wish to obtain a certificate of adequacy under Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 2 § 27-16 typically initiate the process by requesting an inspection from the division. Before the application is accepted, the division is required to explain the process both orally and in writing, including the obligation for either the seller or purchaser to address any identified deficiencies. Compliant operators generally ensure that all areas covered by the referenced inspection standards—structural, exterior, plumbing, heating, and electrical—are in acceptable condition, and they track the six-month validity window to avoid relying on an expired certificate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For buyers or occupants of one- or two-family homes in Syracuse, Syracuse Rev. Gen. Ord. ch. 27, art. 2 § 27-16 provides a mechanism to verify that a property meets baseline structural, plumbing, heating, and electrical standards before or during a transaction. The provision requires that applicants be fully informed, both orally and in writing, about how the process works and who bears responsibility for correcting any deficiencies found. Tenants or prospective purchasers who have questions about whether a certificate has been issued, revoked, or has expired may contact the Syracuse division directly or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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