Home Buyer & Home Owner Resources

The City of Rochester offers a centralized portal for various payments, including:

• Property Taxes

• Water Bills

• Parking Tickets

• Traffic Violations

• Monthly Parking Fees(City of Rochester, City of Rochester)

Access the portal here: www.cityofrochester.gov/pay

For detailed property tax billing information:

• Treasury Bureau: (585) 428-6940

• Address: City Hall, Room 100A, 30 Church St., Rochester, NY 14614

• Office Hours: Monday–Friday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

• More info: www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/finance-department/property-tax-billing(City of Rochester)

For water billing inquiries:

• Phone: 311 (within city limits) or (585) 428-5990 (outside city limits)

• More info: www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/finance-department/water-billing(211 Lifeline)

Monroe County Property Taxes

For properties outside Rochester city limits, Monroe County provides an online portal to view and pay property taxes.(Monroe County)

Access the portal here: www.monroecounty.gov/property

For assistance:

• Real Property Tax Service Office: (585) 753-1125(City of Rochester)

 311 – City of Rochester

• Purpose: Report non-emergencies, request services (trash, lights, potholes).

• 📞 311 or (585) 428-5990

• 📧 info@cityofrochester.gov

• 🌐https://rochester.portal.us.empro.verintcloudservices.com/site/rochester/home

City of Rochester – Housing & Neighborhood Services

• Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP): Offers grants up to $6,000 for first-time homebuyers to assist with closing costs.

• Contact: (585) 428-6888

• Email: homebuyer@cityofrochester.gov

• Website: www.cityofrochester.gov/housing(Rochester Public Library, City of Rochester)

Monroe County Home Improvement Program (HIP)

• Provides grants up to $20,000 for essential home repairs, including structural and system upgrades.

• Contact: (585) 753-2000

• Address: 1150 CityPlace, 50 West Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614

• Website: www.monroecounty.gov/homeimprovement(Town of Perinton, Monroe County

PathStone – Homeowner Repair Grants

• Offers limited repair grants for eligible households in Monroe County and surrounding areas.

• Contact: (585) 546-3700 x3026

• Email: homerehab@pathstone.org

• Website: www.thehousingcouncil.org/homeowner-repair-grants-info(The Housing Council at PathStone)

City of Rochester – Housing Rehabilitation & Repair Programs

• Provides assistance for housing rehabilitation and repair services.

• Contact: Sylvia Dobbs at (585) 428-6207

• Email: Sylvia.Dobbs@cityofrochester.gov

• Website: www.cityofrochester.gov/departments/neighborhood-and-business-development/contract-services-housing-rehabilitation-and(City of Rochester)

 SEAC Tool Shed

The SEAC Tool Shed provides affordable access to a wide range of tools for residents, businesses, and organizations in the Greater Rochester area. Memberships start at $25 per year, and the program is open to all nine counties in the region. They offer tools for home repairs, community projects, and more.seactoolshed.org+1seactoolshed.org+1

• Website: seactoolshed.org

• Location: 1255 University Ave, Suite C010, Rochester, NY 14607

• Hours:

  • Tuesday–Friday: 3 PM – 7 PM

  • Saturday: 10 AM – 2 PM

  • Closed on Sunday and Monday

• Contact: toolshed@seacrochester.org | 585-271-TOOL (8665) 

Rochester Garden Central

Rochester Garden Central is a comprehensive online resource for community gardens in the Rochester area. It includes an interactive map to help you find gardens near you and provides information on how to get involved.rocgardencentral.digitalscholar.rochester.edu

• Website: rocgardencentral.digitalscholar.rochester.edu

• Features:

  • Interactive map of community gardens

  • Information on how to start a garden

  • Resources for garders

These offices manage building permits, zoning, urban planning, and community development in Rochester and Monroe County.

• Building & Zoning Office
  📍 30 Church St #125B | ☎️ (585) 428-7043
  Handles building permits and zoning regulations.

• City of Rochester Permit Office
  📍 30 Church St #121B | ☎️ (585) 428-6520
  Issues permits for building and construction projects.

• Permit & Certificate of Occupancy Office
  📍 30 Church St #122B | ☎️ (585) 428-6526
  Provides occupancy certificates and related permits.

• Rochester City Planning Department
  📍 30 Church St #10A | ☎️ (585) 428-6518
  Guides long-term city development and land use.

• Rochester Planning Commission
  📍 30 Church St #222B | ☎️ (585) 428-6988
  Reviews and approves major planning proposals.

• Monroe County Planning & Development
  📍 50 W Main St | ☎️ (585) 753-2000
  County-level planning, economic development, and land use.

• Street Maintenance Division
  📍 945 Mt Read Blvd | ☎️ (585) 428-5990
  Manages road repairs and maintenance in the city.

• Rochester Real Estate Division
  📍 30 Church St #28B | ☎️ (585) 428-6951
  Oversees city-owned properties and real estate services.

• Neighborhood Business Development Office
  📍 30 Church St #224B | ☎️ (585) 428-6524
  Supports small businesses and neighborhood revitalization.

1. City of Rochester Home Purchase Assistance Program (HPAP)

• Assistance: Up to $6,000 for closing costs; $1,500 buyer contribution required.

• 📞 (585) 428-6888

• 🌐 cityofrochester.gov/homepurchase

2. Employer Assisted Housing Initiative (EAHI)

• Assistance: $2,000–$10,000 for eligible employees purchasing homes in Rochester.

• 📞 (585) 428-6888

• 🌐 cityofrochester.gov/eahi

3. University of Rochester Home Ownership Incentive

• Assistance: Up to $20,000 for University employees.

• 📞 (585) 275-0476

• 🌐 rochester.edu/working/hr/benefits/housing

4. Homebuyer Dream Program (via Family First CU)

• Assistance: Up to $30,000 for down payment and closing costs.

• 📞 (585) 586-8225

• 🌐 home.familyfirstny.com/1st-home-buyers

5. Rochester Housing Authority – Homeownership Voucher Program

• Service: Allows Section 8 holders to apply rental subsidies toward mortgage payments.

• 📞 (585) 697-6100

• 🌐 rochesterhousing.org/home-ownership-program

1. The Housing Council at PathStone

• Services: Pre-purchase education, budgeting, credit counseling, post-purchase maintenance & financial planning.

• 📞 (585) 546-3700

• 📧 homeadvocate@pathstone.org

• 🌐 thehousingcouncil.org/prepurchase-education-and-counseling

2. Consumer Credit Counseling Service (CCCS) of Rochester

• Services: Online homebuyer workshop via eHome America (English & Spanish).

• 📞 (585) 546-3440

• 🌐 cccsofrochester.org/services/housing-counseling/first-time-homebuyer-workshop

3. NeighborWorks® Community Partners Rochester

• Services: In-person 8-hour monthly classes with industry professionals.

• 📍 570 South Ave, Rochester, NY 14620

• 📞 (585) 325-4170

• 📧 info@ncpny.org

• 🌐 ncpny.org/home-buyer-education-8-hr-class

4. Greater Rochester Habitat for Humanity

• Services: Homeownership program includes financial literacy & hands-on homebuilding (sweat equity).

• 📍 755 Culver Rd, Rochester, NY 14609

• 📞 (585) 546-1470

• 📧 Habitat@GRHabitat.org

• 🌐 grhabitat.org/homeownership

5. Action for a Better Community (ABC)

• Services: First-time homebuyer workshops led by experts on credit, income, and grant programs.

• 📧 mbashir@abcinfo.org

• 🌐 abcinfo.org/events/homebuyer-readiness-workshop