Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-16
Penalties for offenses
Operative Text
Any rental dwelling unit not registered pursuant to the provisions of this article shall not, after June 30, 2018, be offered for rental. Any owner whose failure to comply with the provisions of this article results in legal action by the City to either compel compliance or to enjoin occupancy shall be liable to the City, as part of any judgment obtained by the City, for the City's costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, in obtaining such judgment.
Section 177-16 of Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 establishes two key consequences for non-compliance with the rental dwelling unit registration requirements. First, any unit that has not been properly registered may not be offered for rental after June 30, 2018. Second, if the City is forced to take legal action to compel compliance or stop occupancy, the non-compliant owner can be ordered to pay the City's litigation costs, including reasonable attorney's fees, as part of any resulting court judgment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental dwelling units in Watertown should ensure that every unit is registered in accordance with ch. 177 before offering it for rent, as § 177-16 bars unregistered units from being offered for rental after June 30, 2018. Compliant operators maintain current registrations and respond promptly to any City notices to avoid triggering enforcement action. If the City pursues legal action to compel compliance or enjoin occupancy, a court may order the owner to cover the City's full litigation costs, including attorney's fees, on top of any other remedies.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 177-16 of Watertown's Code of Ordinances ch. 177, tenants may have grounds to question whether a unit they occupy or are considering renting has been properly registered with the City, since unregistered units are prohibited from being offered for rental after June 30, 2018. If a tenant believes a unit is unregistered, they may consider contacting the City of Watertown's relevant code enforcement office to inquire about the unit's registration status. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local Watertown ordinances can help explain what options may be available when a landlord has not complied with registration requirements under this provision.
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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