Cal. Civ. Code § 304
Penalties for violations
Operative Text
§ 304. Penalties for violations. 1. Any person, who having been served with a notice or order to remove any violation of this chapter or of any nuisance, fails to comply therewith within thirty days or within such further reasonable time therefore fixed by the department, shall be guilty of a misdemeanor punishable for each offense by a fine of not exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for a period of one year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. However, every person who shall violate or assist in a violation of any provision of sections forty, seventy and one hundred seventy-four shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine of not less than ten dollars nor exceeding five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for a period not exceeding six months, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Courts of special sessions shall have exclusive jurisdiction in the municipalities to which this chapter is applicable to hear and determine charges of violations constituting misdemeanors or offenses under this chapter. 2. The term "person" as used in this section shall include the owner, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation directly or indirectly in control of a dwelling or part thereof.
Under N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 304, when a person receives an official notice or order to correct a violation of the Multiple Residence Law or an associated nuisance, they have thirty days—or any additional reasonable time the department grants—to comply. Failure to do so constitutes a misdemeanor carrying a fine of up to $500, up to one year of imprisonment, or both. Violations of specific sections (40, 70, and 174) carry their own penalty range, with fines between $10 and $500 and up to six months of imprisonment. The law casts a wide net over who qualifies as a 'person' responsible, encompassing owners, mortgagees, receivers, lessees, agents, and others who exercise direct or indirect control over a dwelling.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 304 generally act promptly upon receiving any departmental notice or order to cure a violation, treating the thirty-day compliance window as a firm deadline rather than a starting point for negotiation. Because § 304 extends personal liability to agents, receivers, lessees, and others in control of a dwelling—not just the titled owner—property management companies and on-site agents typically ensure they are aware of any outstanding orders issued against properties they oversee. Operators who anticipate needing more time to remediate a condition commonly communicate with the issuing department before the deadline to request a formal extension, since only department-granted extensions are recognized under the statute.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in dwellings subject to N.Y. Mult. Resid. Law § 304 should be aware that the law imposes criminal penalties on those who control a dwelling and fail to correct cited violations within the statutory timeframe, which can serve as a meaningful enforcement backstop beyond civil remedies. If a landlord or building agent has received a notice or order and has not corrected the condition, tenants may report ongoing non-compliance to the local housing or building department that issued the original order, since that agency has authority to pursue misdemeanor charges under § 304. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid offices can help residents understand how an unresolved violation order might also be raised as a defense or counterclaim in housing court proceedings.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.