Local landlord and tenant rules in Ithaca, New York
Ithaca, New York has local rules on good cause eviction (RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; Ithaca City Code ch. 258, art. IV, §§ 258-14 to 258-16; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026)), on top of New York law.
Local rules in Ithaca, New York
Good cause eviction
The City of Ithaca has adopted New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law (Local Law 1 of 2024, July 10, 2024): a covered tenant may be evicted only for a good cause the law lists and is entitled to a renewal, and a rent increase above the local rent standard — 8.15% for 2026 (3.15% inflation plus 5%) — is presumed unreasonable. Not covered: a landlord with no more than one unit anywhere in New York, a unit renting for more than 345% of HUD’s fair market rent for the county, owner-occupied buildings of ten or fewer units, rent-regulated, income-restricted, condominium and co-op units, and buildings first given a certificate of occupancy in 2009 or later (for 30 years).
Source: RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; Ithaca City Code ch. 258, art. IV, §§ 258-14 to 258-16; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026) (read the source). Checked on November 11, 2026.
New York rules that apply in Ithaca
| Rule | New York |
|---|---|
| How long does a landlord have to return a security deposit in New York? | 14 days |
| How much can a landlord charge for a security deposit in New York? | 1 month of rent |
| Does a landlord have to pay interest on a security deposit in New York? | Buildings of six or more units must hold the deposit in an interest-bearing New York account; the owner may keep 1 % as an administrative fee. |
| How much notice does a landlord have to give before raising the rent in New York? | 30 / 60 / 90 days by tenancy length, on increases of 5% or more |
| How much notice must a landlord give to end a tenancy in New York? | 30 / 60 / 90 days by tenancy length |
| How many days does a tenant get to pay late rent in New York? | 14 days to pay |
| How much can a landlord charge for a late rent fee in New York? | $50 or 5%, whichever is less |
| Is there a grace period for paying rent in New York? | 5 days |
Every New York rule Seayora publishes.
The homes these rules cover in Ithaca
70.4% of the occupied homes in Ithaca are rented, about 9,971 households, a share higher than across New York (45.7%).
The median gross rent is $1,447 a month, lower than across New York ($1,621); that is what households report paying, utilities included, not the asking rent for a vacant apartment.
65.0% of renters there pay 30% or more of their income on rent.
65.3% of the homes were built before 1980, and the federal lead-paint disclosure rule covers housing built before 1978.
| Ithaca | Tompkins County | New York | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Households that rent | 70.4% (±3.0 points) | 45.9% | 45.7% |
| Median gross rent | $1,447 (±$69) | $1,411 | $1,621 |
| Renters paying 30% or more of income on rent | 65.0% (±7.1 points) | 58.6% | 52.1% |
| Median income of renter households | $38,394 (±$5,555) | $44,517 | $57,803 |
| Homes built before 1980 | 65.3% (±5.5 points) | 57.4% | 73.9% |
| Homes in buildings of five or more units | 41.4% (±5.2 points) | 23.5% | 34.7% |
| Households that moved in since 2020 | 45.5% (±5.4 points) | 32.8% | 20.5% |
All housing figures for Ithaca: rent by bedrooms, home values, property taxes, commute.
Source: US Census Bureau, Selected Housing Characteristics (DP04), 2020–2024 ACS 5-year estimates — undefined. This product uses the Census Bureau Data API but is not endorsed or certified by the Census Bureau.
Questions about Ithaca’s local rules
Does a landlord in Ithaca need a reason to evict or not renew?
The City of Ithaca has adopted New York’s Good Cause Eviction Law (Local Law 1 of 2024, July 10, 2024): a covered tenant may be evicted only for a good cause the law lists and is entitled to a renewal, and a rent increase above the local rent standard — 8.15% for 2026 (3.15% inflation plus 5%) — is presumed unreasonable. Not covered: a landlord with no more than one unit anywhere in New York, a unit renting for more than 345% of HUD’s fair market rent for the county, owner-occupied buildings of ten or fewer units, rent-regulated, income-restricted, condominium and co-op units, and buildings first given a certificate of occupancy in 2009 or later (for 30 years). (RPL §§ 211(7)-(8), 213, 214, 216; Ithaca City Code ch. 258, art. IV, §§ 258-14 to 258-16; DHCR, Good Cause Eviction Law Required DHCR Notice (posted July 16, 2026; list as of May 4, 2026))
This is a summary of the local rules Seayora has read from each place’s own code, not legal advice. Ordinances change and a rule may have exceptions; check the citation and the office named before acting.