Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 § 177-17
Severability
Operative Text
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part of this article shall be adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not affect, impair or invalidate the remainder thereof but shall be confined in its operation to the clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part thereof directly involved in said judgment.
Section 177-17 of Watertown, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 177 is a severability clause, a standard legal provision that protects the integrity of the broader ordinance. If a court finds any specific part of the article to be legally invalid, that ruling applies only to the invalidated portion and does not bring down the rest of the ordinance with it. The remaining provisions continue in full force and effect, unaffected by the court's judgment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
As a property owner or manager subject to ch. 177, the severability rule in § 177-17 means that the ordinance as a whole remains operative even if a court strikes down one of its components. Compliant operators generally continue to follow all other provisions of the article unless and until a court specifically invalidates those sections as well. This clause provides structural stability to the regulatory framework landlords must navigate.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 177-17 is relevant to tenants because it ensures that a legal challenge to one part of ch. 177 does not erase the protections offered by the rest of the ordinance. If a landlord or other party successfully challenges a specific provision in court, tenants can still rely on the remaining sections of the article for their rights and remedies. Tenants seeking to understand which protections remain in effect after any such ruling may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid resource familiar with Watertown housing law.
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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