Buildings and Compliance
New
The Certificate of Occupancy Program has relocated to Room 028B in City Hall. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Questions? Email our Certificate of Occupancy Program
Welcome
Welcome to the City of Rochester's Bureau of Buildings and Compliance web page. Our Bureau is responsible for the administration and enforcement of building, zoning, and property codes, the administration of rehabilitation grant programs, and the administration of the city's demolition program.
These efforts, which ensure public safety and enhance the quality of life for our residents, are accomplished through the critical processes described below. We perform these duties with a focus on customer service. The proper maintenance of our aged housing stock plays an important role in the future success of our city. We extend our gratitude to all property owners who contribute to making Rochester the premier mid-sized city in the U.S. for living, raising a family, visiting, and conducting business by diligently maintaining their properties.
The Bureau of Buildings and Compliance consists of:
- Permit Office (Room 121B, (585) 428-6520)
- Code enforcement (Room 028B, (585) 428-6520)
- Contract Services (Room 028B, (585) 428-6963)
- Licensed Trades (Room 121B, (585) 428-9339)
- Plan Review (Room 121B, (585) 428-6526)
- And working closely with the Division of Zoning (Room 125B, (585) 428-7043)
NLC report lauds Rochester's 'healthy housing' policies
The National League of Cities released a report on Tuesday, October. 30, 2018 that cited Rochester as the 'gold standard' and a national 'exemplar' for enacting and enforcing inspection policies that generate healthy housing options for city residents.
'Rochester, NY is routinely identified as the gold standard in city-level healthy housing policies and programming in the United States, both in terms of efficacy and evaluative history.' Advancing City-Level Healthy Housing: Policies, Practices, and Programs in Asthma & Lead – Strategies for Progress.
Our mission
To support the City of Rochester's Vision and its Values and Guiding Principles, the Bureau of Buildings and Compliance and the Division of Zoning will perform permit application review processes, facilitate rehabilitation grant programs, and conduct inspection services to ensure that all buildings and properties in the City of Rochester comply with local, county, state and federal regulations.
Our team will do this by delivering timely, consistent, and comprehensive customer-oriented services most cost-effectively.
Our Critical Processes include:
- Certificates of Occupancy
- Code Inspection & Enforcement
- Vacant Property Management
- Complaint Inspections
- Lead Based Paint Inspections
- Building Permits
- Zoning Code Management
- Licensed Trades
- Housing Rehabilitation and Repair Programs
Essential Links & Documents
- Lead - Preparation Tips for a Lead Dust Wipe Inspection
- Lead High Risk Street Listing
- Lead High Risk Area Map or Interactive Map
- Lead Certified Clearance Providers
- Lead Safe Units & C of O's Issued
- Lead Hazard Reduction Program
- Building Owner Registry
- Building Code Review
- Certificate of Occupancy Application
- City Code On-Line
- Customer Satisfaction Survey
- Demolition Tracker
- Inspection Information (FAQs)
- NBD Map Gallery
- NYS Codes Division
- NYS Tenant Rights Guide
- Fire Escape Inspection Policy
Brochures
We are dedicated to providing the highest level of service to our customers and encourage you to contact us any time you require assistance. We look forward to working with our customers to make this the best city in which to live, work, visit, and raise a family.
We hope you found this site useful. If you have suggestions for improvement or if you would like to see additional information displayed, please let us know.
Kurt Martin
Director of Buildings and Compliance