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Eviction in Tompkins County, New York

Where eviction cases are filed in Tompkins County, what it costs, local rent levels and where to get help — with the official court, county and HUD sources.

Quick facts: eviction in Tompkins County

Eviction court
Ithaca City Court (property in the City of Ithaca); town and village justice courts elsewhere in the county — City Court / Town and Village Justice Courts (summary proceedings)
Filing fee
$45 to issue a notice of petition in a summary proceeding in City Court; $20 in town and village justice courts. City Court jury demand: $70. Uniform City Court Act s. 1911(a)(11) and (a)(8); Uniform Justice Court Act s. 1911(a)(1)(j)
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)
$1,753/month HUD
Renter households
19,841 (46% of households) Census ACS 2020–2024

Last verified against official sources: 2026-10-28

Where eviction cases are filed in Tompkins County

Eviction cases in Tompkins County are heard by the Ithaca City Court (property in the City of Ithaca); town and village justice courts elsewhere in the county (City Court / Town and Village Justice Courts (summary proceedings)).

Eviction (summary proceeding) cases outside New York City are heard in city courts for property within a city and in town or village justice courts elsewhere.

How much it costs to file an eviction in Tompkins County

$45 to issue a notice of petition in a summary proceeding in City Court; $20 in town and village justice courts. City Court jury demand: $70.

Justice court fee: https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/UJC/1911. Process-server fees are separate.

Source: Uniform City Court Act s. 1911(a)(11) and (a)(8); Uniform Justice Court Act s. 1911(a)(1)(j)

The New York eviction process

New York state law sets the notice periods and court steps everywhere in the state, including Tompkins County:

  1. 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
  2. File petition and notice of petition; in holdover cases serve it 10 to 17 days before the hearing (RPAPL 733)
  3. Hearing/trial; tenant may raise defenses such as warranty of habitability, retaliation, or missing 5-day late-rent notice
  4. 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))
  5. Warrant of eviction issued; officer must give at least 14 days' written notice before execution (RPAPL 749)
  6. 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 Tompkins County

HUD FY2026 Fair Market Rents for the Ithaca, NY MSA (the rent levels used for Section 8 vouchers):

Studio$1,263
1 bedroom$1,466
2 bedrooms$1,753
3 bedrooms$2,102
4 bedrooms$2,624

Source: HUD Fair Market Rent documentation

Median gross rent in Tompkins County: $1,411/month (Census ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates).

County tenant ordinance

No county-level landlord-tenant ordinance identified; eviction procedure follows state law. City rules, if any, are on city pages.

Eviction help in Tompkins County

Free legal help

Tenant and eviction lawyers in Tompkins County

Other New York counties

Related

Frequently asked questions

Where do I file an eviction in Tompkins County?
Eviction cases in Tompkins County are filed with the Ithaca City Court (property in the City of Ithaca); town and village justice courts elsewhere in the county.
How much does it cost to file an eviction in Tompkins County?
$45 to issue a notice of petition in a summary proceeding in City Court; $20 in town and village justice courts. City Court jury demand: $70.
Where can I get help with an eviction in Tompkins County?
LawNY (Legal Assistance of Western New York) - Ithaca Office.
What is the fair market rent in Tompkins County?
HUD's FY2026 Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom unit is $1,753 per month (1-bedroom: $1,466).

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.