Cortland Codes Department

01/23/2026

❄️ Heavy Snow on the Way – Let’s Look Out for Each Other ❄️
With heavy snow coming, please take a few minutes to help keep everyone safe:

🚒 Clear fire hydrants so the fire department can access them quickly in an emergency
🚶 Shovel & Salt sidewalks to prevent slips and falls
🔥 Make sure furnace and exhaust piping on the outside of your building are clear of snow
🚨 Smoke detectors & CO detectors – check that they’re working properly
🤝 Check on your neighbors, especially seniors or anyone who may need help during the cold weather

A little effort goes a long way. Stay warm, stay safe, and thank you for helping keep our community safe! ❄️

01/13/2026

🚨 Carbon Monoxide (CO) Alarms Are Going Off for a Reason — Please Don’t Ignore Them 🚨

A recent call has reminded us about the dangers of Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms being taken down or disabled because people believe they’re “malfunctioning.” In many cases, they are not.

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas, and even low-level exposure can be dangerous. While a single short exposure may cause mild or no symptoms, repeated low-level exposure can build up over time, leading to headaches, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, confusion, and more serious health effects. Because symptoms can be subtle at first, people often don’t realize they’re being exposed.
Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms are designed to activate before levels become life-threatening. That early warning is critical. Removing the alarm doesn’t fix the problem — it removes your only alert that something may be wrong with a fuel-burning appliance, ventilation system, or attached garage.

🔹 If your Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarm is sounding:
• Get fresh air immediately
• Call for Professional help (fire department or Gas Company)
• Have appliances and vents checked
• Replace the alarm if it’s old or faulty — don’t disable it

Carbon Monoxide (CO) exposure is preventable, but only if alarms are taken seriously. Please keep your Carbon Monoxide (CO) alarms installed, maintained, and working. They are there to protect you and your family.

Your safety — and your life — is worth it. ❤️

12/10/2025

✨ Join Us for Cortland’s Annual Menorah Lighting! ✨

The City of Cortland invites everyone to come together for the Menorah Lighting on Sunday, December 14th at 6:00 PM in Courthouse Park.
Bring your family, friends, and community spirit as we celebrate the Festival of Lights with warmth, tradition, and togetherness.

🕎 Event Details:
📅 Sunday, December 14th
⏰ 6:00 PM
📍 Courthouse Park, Cortland

We look forward to celebrating with you!
Feel free to share this post and spread the word! 💙🕯️

11/26/2025

🔥 Keep the Holidays Safe & Bright! 🔥

The kitchen is the heart of the home — especially during the holidays! As you prepare favorite recipes and gather with loved ones, remember to keep fire safety top of mind.
🏠 Thanksgiving is the #1 day for home cooking fires — more than 3x the daily average. Stay safe by:

✅ Staying in the kitchen while cooking
✅ Keeping kids and distractions away from hot areas
✅ Checking your smoke alarms

A few simple steps can make all the difference. Let’s keep this holiday season filled with joy, not smoke! ❤️

https://www.nfpa.org/education-and-research/home-fire-safety/thanksgiving -statistics

10/31/2025

🎃 Happy Halloween Everyone! 🎃

We hope all the families in our community have a spooktacular time tonight! We just wish the weather would cooperate a bit more — but rain or shine, we hope you all have lots of fun and stay safe out there.

👻 Candy Safety Alert!
The Cortland Fire Department will be volunteering their time to provide free candy safety checks from 5:30 PM – 8:30 PM tonight at the following locations:
• 25 Wheeler Ave (The Armory)
• 23 Court St (Fire Department Headquarters)
• 175 Port Watson St (Christian Assembly of God)
Stop by any of these spots to have your candy checked before digging in.

🕸️ Special Halloween Fundraiser Event – 9:45 PM 🕷️
Tonight around 9:45 PM, Mayor Scott Steve, Officer Peters, Officer Drake, Officer Morris (UPD), Deputy Chief Reynolds, and Firefighter Sherman will be teaming up with the 1890 House in Cortland for a night of spooky challenges throughout the haunted mansion!

Why are they doing this? 👀
They’re raising money to support the First Responder for a Day Camp and the 1890 House.

💀 For every $100 raised, our brave participants will take on more terrifying challenges!

The event will be live-streamed, so everyone please go to the City Police page to tune in from home and watch as they face their fears — and maybe even a few ghosts! 👻

Have a safe, fun, and fright-filled Halloween, Cortland! 🎃🧡

10/30/2025

We’re less than a week away from Halloween, and our local first responders are gearing up for a thrilling night inside the historic 1890 House Museum! They’ll embark on a ghost-hunting adventure to raise funds for two incredible causes — the First Responder for a Day Camp and the preservation of the 1890 House Museum itself.

The First Responder for a Day Camp gives children a one-of-a-kind opportunity to learn from and interact with real-life heroes. Kids experience hands-on activities, teamwork, and confidence-building challenges while discovering what it truly means to serve and protect their community. This camp inspires leadership, responsibility, and compassion — values that shape the next generation of community helpers.

Your support through this fundraiser helps make that possible. Every donation ensures that more children can attend camp, learn from local heroes, and create memories that last a lifetime — all while helping preserve one of our community’s most historic landmarks.

💀 When professional Ghost Hunters visited the 1890 House, they had an eventful night — and now it’s our turn! Tune in live on Facebook this Halloween night to watch our brave first responders explore the mysteries of the 1890 House. It’s going to be a night full of history, hauntings, and heart — all for a great cause.

09/10/2025

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: 9/10\2025
Contact: City of Cortland – Official Statement Regarding Fraudulent Invoices Sent to Zoning and Planning Board Applicants CORTLAND, NY – The City of Cortland has recently become aware of fraudulent invoices being sent to individuals who have submitted applications to the City’s Zoning Board of Appeals and/or Planning Commission.

These invoices falsely appear to be associated with official City business and request payment for services or listings that the City does not authorize, charge for, or recognize.
Upon investigation, it has been determined that these fraudulent solicitations are being generated using publicly available information posted as part of the legally required public notices on the City of Cortland’s official website. Importantly, there has been no data breach or unauthorized access to internal City systems.
The City emphasizes the following:
• Do not pay any invoice unless it comes directly from the City of Cortland with official letterhead and recognizable City contact information.
• The City of Cortland does not charge applicants for any third-party publication or registry services outside of the standard application fees disclosed during the formal submission process.
• If you have received a suspicious invoice or communication related to your application, please contact the City Code Enforcement Office at (607)753-1741 to verify its authenticity.

What to look out for:
• Invoices referencing third-party directories or services not affiliated with the City
• Requests for payment sent via email or postal mail not bearing the City’s official seal or logo
• Urgent payment demands with vague descriptions of services
The City is currently coordinating with appropriate authorities to address this issue and will pursue any available avenues to prevent further fraudulent activity. Anyone receiving a similar solicitation is urged to Contact The City of Cortland Police Department At (607)756-2811 As soon as possible. The City of Cortland is only aware of this happening within its jurisdictional boundaries; however potential does exist for other municipalities to be affected given the commonality of similar public notifications. Any Concerns outside City of Cortland boundaries should be directed to CCSD at (607)753-3311.
We thank our residents and applicants for their vigilance and cooperation. Protecting the integrity of our municipal operations and the interests of our citizens remains our highest priority.
Contact Information:
Roy Everett
[email protected]
(607)753-1741

Attached is an official copy of this press release letter and a copy of what the fraudulent email looks like and the attachments that they sent to make it look like an invoice.

Thank you,

Cortland Code Enforcement
[email protected]
607-753-1741

07/23/2025

Good Morning,

The Code Enforcement Office would like to make everyone aware of a recent recall involving "easy up" style pools. Please review the article linked below to see if your pool is one of those being recalled:
https://www.nbcnews.com/health/recall/5-million-swimming-pools-recalled-deaths-9-children-2007-rcna219950

Additionally, we’d like to remind all residents that all new pool installations within the City of Cortland require a permit—regardless of type or size.

If you have any questions or need assistance, feel free to contact our office at 607-753-1741 or via email at [email protected].

Thank you for helping us keep our community safe!

The pools are surrounded by compression straps that can be used as footholds, allowing small children to climb into the water unattended.

07/03/2025

The Code Enforcement Division of the City of Cortland encourages residents to report any concerns or potential violations they observe on properties within the community. We understand that reporting a violation may sometimes feel inconvenient or uncomfortable, but we emphasize that your observations are vital for maintaining the safety and well-being of our community.

Whether the issue pertains to your own property, a rental property, a neighbor’s residence, or an area in need of cleanup, we strongly encourage you to reach out. Our office is committed to investigating all concerns brought to our attention.

Please note that while we make every effort to address violations promptly, resolutions may take time depending on the nature of the issue. If a violation is confirmed, appropriate actions will be taken, to bring to compliance.

For questions, concerns, or to report a violation, please contact us at:
Phone: 607-753-1741
Email: [email protected]

Alternatively, you can report a code violation directly through our online portal:
http://cortland.org/204/Report-a-Code-Violation

Thank you for helping us keep Cortland a safe and well-maintained community.
City of Cortland Code Enforcement Division

Report a code violation by calling our offices or by submitting an online complaint form.

06/27/2025

Hello, City of Cortland Residents,

As we enter the warmer months, the City of Cortland Code Enforcement Division would like to remind all residents to contact our office at 607-753-1741 before beginning any construction or renovation work on or around their homes. This includes exterior and interior projects.

Please verify whether a permit is required prior to starting any work. While the permitting process may seem inconvenient, it is in place to ensure the safety of homeowners, contractors, and the community as a whole.

We appreciate the continued cooperation of our residents throughout the year and thank you for helping us keep Cortland a safe and well-maintained city.

Wishing everyone a safe and enjoyable season ahead.

Thank you,
City of Cortland Code Enforcement Division
[email protected]
607-753-1741

06/27/2025