Eviction in Jefferson County, New York
Where eviction cases are filed in Jefferson County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.
Quick facts: eviction in Jefferson County
- Eviction court
- Watertown City Court and town/village justice courts — City court; town and village justice courts Court page
- Notice before filing (state law)
- 14-day written rent demand before filing a nonpayment proceeding. Separately, if rent is not received within 5 days of the due date, the landlord must send the tenant a certified-mail notice that rent was not received; failure is an affirmative defense to a nonpayment case. New York rules
- HUD Fair Market Rent, 2-bedroom (FY2026)
- $1,405/month HUD
- Renter households
- 21,588 (45% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024
Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28
Where eviction cases are filed in Jefferson County
Eviction cases in Jefferson County are heard by the Watertown City Court and town/village justice courts (City court; town and village justice courts).
- Watertown City Court — Watertown City Hall, 245 Washington Street, Watertown, NY 13601 · website
Watertown City Court: (315) 570-2720. The county's court contact page also lists the town and village justice courts in Jefferson County with phone numbers. Eviction papers are served by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Civil Division (753 Waterman Drive, Watertown; 315-786-2718; civil@jeffersoncountyny.gov; Mon-Fri 7:30 a.m.-3:45 p.m., 7:30 a.m.-2:45 p.m. in July and August).
How eviction cases work locally
| Service of eviction papers | The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Civil Division serves evictions, summonses and civil warrants; its civil fee and mileage schedules are posted on its page. Source: Official source |
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The New York eviction process
New York state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Jefferson County:
- Notice: 14-day rent demand (nonpayment, RPAPL 711(2)) or termination/non-renewal notice of 30/60/90 days (holdover, RPL 226-c); in Good Cause areas the notice must state coverage and grounds
- File petition and notice of petition; in holdover cases serve it 10 to 17 days before the hearing (RPAPL 733)
- Hearing/trial; tenant may raise defenses such as warranty of habitability, retaliation, or missing 5-day late-rent notice
- Judgment of possession; court may stay the warrant up to 1 year for hardship (RPAPL 753(1)); 30-day cure stay in lease-breach cases (RPAPL 753(4))
- Warrant of eviction issued; officer must give at least 14 days' written notice before execution (RPAPL 749)
- Removal by sheriff, city marshal or constable, on a business day between sunrise and sunset; in nonpayment cases the warrant is vacated if full rent due is paid before execution
Full New York eviction rules with sources →
Rent in Jefferson County
HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Watertown-Fort Drum, NY MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):
| Studio | $969 |
|---|---|
| 1 bedroom | $1,071 |
| 2 bedrooms | $1,405 |
| 3 bedrooms | $1,907 |
| 4 bedrooms | $2,340 |
Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation
Median gross rent in Jefferson County: $1,213/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).
County tenant ordinance
No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; summary proceedings follow NY Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law art. 7.
Eviction help in Jefferson County
Free legal help
- Legal Aid Society of Mid-New York - Tenant Defense Project — Free eviction defense for renters at or below 80% of Area Median Income in 13 counties including Jefferson; (315) 793-7083. Watertown office: 215 Washington St. #202, Watertown, NY 13601, (315) 955-6700 (https://www.lasmny.org/about/office-locations/watertown/).
Tenant and eviction lawyers in Jefferson County
Other New York counties
- Eviction in Brooklyn (Kings County)
- Eviction in Manhattan (New York County)
- Eviction in Queens (Queens County)
- Eviction in The Bronx (Bronx County)
- Eviction in Westchester County (Yonkers, White Plains)
- Eviction in Erie County (Buffalo)
- Eviction in Monroe County (Rochester)
- Eviction in Suffolk County (Long Island)
- Eviction in Nassau County (Long Island)
- Eviction in Onondaga County (Syracuse)
- Eviction in Albany County (Albany)
- Eviction in Staten Island (Richmond County)
- Eviction in Orange County (Newburgh, Middletown)
- Eviction in Dutchess County (Poughkeepsie, Beacon)
- Eviction in Rockland County
- Eviction in Oneida County (Utica, Rome)
- Eviction in Broome County (Binghamton)
- Eviction in Saratoga County (Saratoga Springs)
- Eviction in Niagara County
- Eviction in Schenectady County
- Eviction in Rensselaer County
- Eviction in Ulster County
- Eviction in Tompkins County
- Eviction in Chautauqua County
Related
- New York landlord-tenant law
- How long an eviction takes in New York
- New York eviction notice periods
- Notice deadline calculator
- How to evict a tenant in New York (landlords)
Frequently asked questions
Where do I file an eviction in Jefferson County?
Where can I get help with an eviction in Jefferson County?
What is the fair market rent in Jefferson County?
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.