Pay or Appeal a Property Code Violation Ticket

If you’re a homeowner or landlord, you can be charged with a violation if you don’t follow our property codes

Usually, you get 15 to 21 days to fix the problem. If you don’t, the City’s Bureau of Administrative Adjudication (BAA) may issue a fine or penalty. Examples of violations include:

  • Dumping trash 
  • Not maintaining your property (like having a junk car in your yard)
  • Not passing an inspection 

If you’re a landlord and your tenant violates the property code, you’re still responsible.

Process

Step 1.Making a plea

If you get a ticket for a violation, you have 30 days to “make a plea”. You can plead:

  • Guilty: This means that you agree you made the violation and pay the fine. 
  • Not guilty: This means you don’t think you made the violation and want to explain why. You will request a hearing with a judge.
  • Guilty with an explanation: This means you agree you made the violation, but want to explain why. You will request a hearing with a judge.

If 30 days goes by and you don’t make a plea, you are in default. You lose your chance for a hearing. The fine or penalty is doubled and you must pay it. 

Step 2.What happens next

If you plead guilty, you need to pay the fee or penalty. 

We accept cash (in person only), check, and money order. Make the check or money order out to “Commissioner of Finance”.

Mail the payment or bring it in person to:

City of Syracuse Bureau of Treasury
City Hall
Room 122
233 East Washington Street
Syracuse, NY 13202 

If you plead not guilty or guilty with an explanation, you request a hearing to appeal.

You can challenge your ticket if you don’t think you deserve it. You just need to request a hearing with BAA. 

During the hearing, you’ll get a chance to explain the situation. A judge will listen to what you have to say and decide what happens next. Request a hearing [link] now.

I paid my ticket but got a "Default Decision and Order" in the mail.

This can happen for a few reasons:

  • You didn't pay the right amount,
  • Your payment was late and you've been charged late fees,
  • Your payment hasn't been applied yet (it can take 2 to 3 weeks),
  • We didn't process your payment properly

 

Call us at 315-448-8320 to find out what to do next.

Questions about property code violations or tickets?

We can help. Contact the Bureau of Administrative Adjudication (BAA) at 315-448-8320 or baa@syrgov.net.