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The Syracuse Common Council is set to vote on adopting the state's Good Cause Eviction Law next week, with supporters saying it will protect tenants from unreasonable rent increases and unfair evictions.
Councilor-at-Large Hanah Ehrenreich is introducing legislation for Syracuse to opt into the state law at the council's February 9 meeting. The measure already has four co-sponsors, giving it enough support to pass, and Mayor Sharon Owens has expressed her support for the initiative.
"We need to ensure our existing rental stock is safe and remains affordable for our residents," Owens said during her recent State of the City address.
The Good Cause Eviction Law, signed by Governor Kathy Hochul in April 2024, automatically applied to New York City but left upstate municipalities to decide whether to opt in. The law limits rent increases and provides protections against retaliatory evictions.
Under the law, rent increases exceeding 5% plus the local Consumer Price Index, or 10% (whichever is lower), are presumed unreasonable. Landlords must justify larger increases based on rising operating costs such as taxes or necessary repairs.
This marks the second attempt to bring Good Cause Eviction protections to Syracuse. The council previously considered the measure in early 2025 but withdrew it in a 5-4 vote for further research.
District 1 Councilor Marty Nave, who previously voted to withdraw the legislation, is now co-sponsoring it. "Let's get it out there and talk about it," Nave said, suggesting there's an opportunity to refine the legislation to gain broader support.
Several upstate cities have already opted into Good Cause Eviction, including Rochester, which passed its version in December 2024, along with Albany and Ithaca.
The law has sparked debate between tenant advocates and landlord groups. Supporters argue it prevents landlords from imposing exorbitant rents or evicting tenants who complain about maintenance issues. Critics contend existing laws adequately protect tenants and that Good Cause will discourage investment in new housing.
Local tenant advocacy groups, including the Syracuse Tenants Union, have been pushing for the legislation. "In a city that's struggling with all these things, we sit in here with a common council who voted down 'Good Cause,' a common sense solution to one of the worst affordable housing prices that are seen across this country," said Deka Eysaman, a member of the New York Civil Liberties Union, during a rally last year.
The upcoming vote follows months of community discussion, including panels featuring both tenant advocates and local landlords who shared their perspectives on the potential impacts of the legislation.