Bills tackle housing code enforcement across New York

ALBANY - Creating a statewide registry of properties with code violations as well as designating a state ombudsman to address lackluster local code enforcement programs are among 11 bills lawmakers have introduced to enhance code enforcement throughout New York.

The slew of bills follows a state Senate investigation into housing code violations, which found multiple issues facing local code enforcement outside of New York City - from inadequate record-keeping and training of code enforcement officers, to insufficient penalties for violations and excessive delays and adjournments on cases, according to the final report by the state Senate's Committee on Investigations and Government Operations.