Code Violations
Code Violation Citations are issued to inform property owners that there is a condition on their property that does not meet code and needs to be corrected. The City of Elmira Inspection Services Division issues these code violation citations to ensure that our neighborhoods remain in shape, maintaining a safe environment, high property values, and high quality-of-life for all of our citizens.

Abatements
Abatement is an action the City may take to remedy a condition that is not compliant with code. When a property owner is issued a violation citation, it will include the amount of time the property owner has to correct the condition. For most violations such as high grass, junk and debris, or failure to shovel snow from the sidewalk, the property owner may have 48 hours to correct the condition.

When abatement is performed, the City will correct the condition by mowing the grass, shoveling the sidewalk, or removing the junk and debris. The City will then add the cost of the labor, materials, and equipment used to perform the abatement to the property tax bill and place the abatement as a lien against the property. The City also has the power to commence court proceedings against a property owner for repeatedly abating the same condition more than 3 times in any 12 month period.

What to do if you receive a code violation citation
For violations that are not subject to abatement, you will generally have 15 days to correct the problem that you were cited for. If you are unsure of the problem or do not understand the violation, contact Inspection Services at (607) 737-5654. If after the 15 days, no effort has been made to correct the problem, you will be given an additional 10 days to correct the problem. If after this time period, no effort has been made to correct the problem, the violation will be referred to the legal department for court action. For violations that pose a danger to the health, safety, and welfare of the public, you can also be issued an appearance ticket for a criminal violation.

It is often very easy to avoid legal proceedings by contacting Inspection Services and explaining your situation. Our inspectors will assist you as best they can to make sure that your property is brought back into compliance with code within a reasonable amount of time.

If you receive a code violation that you do not believe applies to your property or if you do not believe the issue you were cited for exists on your property, contact Inspection Services at (607) 737-5654.

How do I report a code violation?
You can report code violations within the city limits of the City of Elmira anonymously by calling Inspection Services at (607) 737-5654 or by completing the Code Violation Complaint Form online. An inspector will be assigned to complete an inspection of the property in question and issue citations to the property owner if necessary.
»Submit a Code Violation Complaint

When making a code complaint, be as specific as possible. Include a full description of the location and the problem that you believe is a violation. Inspectors can only issue citations for situations that exist when they inspect and that are violations of the City of Elmira Code of Ordinances, the City of Elmira Zoning Ordinance, or the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Codes.