Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-5
Inspection and certification required
Operative Text
A. All residential rental dwelling units shall be inspected and certified by the Building Department, which shall determine compliance with, administer and enforce all applicable provisions of this chapter, the City Code, and the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code (hereinafter "Uniform Code"). The owner, landlord, managing agent or person in possession of a rented dwelling unit(s) in a one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or multiple dwelling shall secure from the Building Department a rental unit compliance certificate whenever the same becomes vacant or whenever there is a change in occupancy and prior to its being reoccupied, indicating that said dwelling unit complies with the requirements of this chapter. B. Nothing contained herein shall be construed or operate to invalidate an otherwise legally effective certificate issued prior to May 1, 2017, except: (1) When there is a change in the tenancy of the residential rental dwelling unit to which the certificate relates for dwelling units covered by the New York State Multiple Residence Law . (2) When there is a change in the tenancy of the residential rental dwelling unit to which the certificate relates for all residential rental dwelling units not covered in § 176-5B(1) . C. Prior to the issuance of a rental unit compliance certificate from the Building Department, the owner, landlord, managing agent or person in possession of a rented dwelling unit(s) in a one-family dwelling, two-family dwelling or multiple dwelling, shall provide to the Building Department for inspection and copying a New York State driver's license or, in the alternative, any other valid form of identification that contains a photograph of the individual, current address, and date of birth. If the owner, landlord, managing agent or person in possession of a rented dwelling unit(s) is unable or unwilling to provide such identification, the Building Department shall withhold the issuance of a rental unit compliance certificate until valid identification is displayed to the Building Department.
Watervliet, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 176 § 176-5 establishes that every residential rental dwelling unit in the city must be inspected and certified by the Building Department before it can be reoccupied following a vacancy or change in tenancy. A rental unit compliance certificate must be obtained each time a unit turns over, confirming the unit meets local and New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code standards. Certificates issued before May 1, 2017 remain valid until a change in tenancy occurs, at which point a new certificate is required. The responsible party must also present valid photo identification to the Building Department as a condition of receiving the certificate.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 176-5, property owners, landlords, and managing agents in Watervliet are generally expected to schedule a Building Department inspection and obtain a rental unit compliance certificate before placing a new tenant in any vacant unit, whether it is in a one-family, two-family, or multiple dwelling. Compliant operators typically maintain current photo identification—such as a New York State driver's license or equivalent government-issued ID—ready to present to the Building Department as part of the certification process. Pre-2017 certificates do not carry over when tenancy changes, so operators generally treat each turnover as a trigger for a fresh inspection and certification under this chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 176-5 of the Watervliet City Code gives tenants a basis to verify that their unit has been properly inspected and certified by the Building Department before they move in, since a rental unit compliance certificate is required prior to reoccupancy after any vacancy or change in tenancy. If a certificate was not obtained, tenants may raise the absence of certification as a relevant issue when dealing with housing complaints or code-enforcement matters involving the Watervliet Building Department. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with New York State housing law can help residents understand how this local certification requirement interacts with broader protections under the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation