Binghamton Rental Registration Law Taking Effect

A rental registration law that was approved by city council more than a year ago is going into effect in Binghamton.

City code enforcement director Tom Costello says the law takes effect today.

Speaking on WNBF Radio's Binghamton Now program, Costello said the rental properties in what's described as the "urban overlay district" on the city's West Side are to be registered first.

Costello said the law requires owners of rental properties to file an application with the city to register their property.

Rental properties eventually will be inspected by city code enforcement employees to verify compliance with code regulations.

Costello said owners will have until September to register rental properties before they would be considered to be in violation of the new law.

The property registration process is being administered by the city clerk's office. The rental registration application may be found here.

Under the new ordinance, all owners of Binghamton rental residential properties who don't live in Broome, Tioga, Cortland, Chenango or Delaware counties must register dwelling units. They also must appoint a local property manager and keep the records current.

The law requires that a property manager or a "responsible person" always be reachable.

Owners who don't register could be fined up to $500 for a first offense.