Cal. Civ. Code § 356
Jurisdiction and procedure
Operative Text
§ 356. Jurisdiction and procedure. Any action or proceeding referred to in this article shall be brought in the supreme court, county court or other court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the premises are situated. At or before the commencement of the action or proceeding the complaint shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the county, together with a notice of the pendency of the action or proceeding, containing the names of the parties, the object of the action or proceeding and a brief description of the premises affected thereby. Said notice shall be recorded immediately by the clerk. The owner or lessee, or both, of said premises may appear in such action or proceeding and answer or move with respect to the complaint, and the subsequent procedure shall be the same as in other actions or proceedings brought to establish a lien or encumbrance upon real property. Such action or proceeding shall be entitled to a preference in the trial or hearing thereof.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 356 establishes where and how certain enforcement actions involving multiple dwellings must be initiated in New York. The case must be filed in a court of competent jurisdiction—such as the supreme or county court—located in the same county as the affected property. Before or at the time the action begins, a notice of pendency must be filed with the county clerk, publicly flagging the dispute and describing the parties, the purpose of the action, and the property involved. Cases brought under this provision are entitled to a preference, meaning they move ahead of ordinary matters on the court's docket.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and lessees subject to an action under N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 356 have the right to appear in the proceeding and respond to the complaint, whether by answer or motion. Operators familiar with this provision generally monitor county clerk records for notices of pendency that may affect their properties, since such a notice is recorded immediately upon filing and creates a public record tied to the premises. Because the procedural framework mirrors that of lien or encumbrance actions on real property, property managers typically ensure their legal representatives are aware of the preference status these cases carry, which can affect scheduling and response timelines.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
N.Y. Mult. Dwell. Law § 356 governs the procedural pathway for certain actions affecting multiple dwellings, including where complaints must be filed and how the public is notified of pending proceedings. Tenants living in a building subject to such an action may find relevant case information in the county clerk's records, since a notice of pendency describing the property and the nature of the dispute must be recorded there. Tenants who believe their building is involved in enforcement activity under this article can consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to better understand how a pending action might 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 September 13, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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