Leasing & tenant law · 10/19/2026
Marshals find 30-plant marijuana grow op during Bronx eviction
City Marshals serving an eviction Monday morning found 30 adult cannabis plants in a vacant Bronx apartment. New York State law allows no more than 12 plants per household. A neighbor said the odor burned her eyes and throat, and the NYC Sheriff's Office is reviewing possible further violations with FDNY, Con Edison and DOB.
Reported by Daily NewsRead the original ↗
What happened
City Marshals found a marijuana grow operation with 30 adult plants while serving an eviction at a Bronx apartment on Monday morning, the Daily News reported in a story published 10/20/2026. The apartment was a vacant first-floor unit on Marion Ave. near E. 195th St. in Fordham. Police said the marshals made the discovery around 10:20 a.m.
The building's super told the Daily News that rent on the apartment had not been paid in more than six months. New York State law makes it illegal to have more than 12 cannabis plants per household. The 30 plants found here are more than twice that limit.
Evelyn Arredondo, 45, lives next door with her three children, who have asthma. She told the Daily News the smell from the unit was toxic and burned her throat, nose and eyes. She said she saw as many as four men coming and going. She said they hid their faces, avoided neighbors and slammed the door. Neighbors also said they saw officers carrying white bags out of the apartment.
The NYC Sheriff's Office is handling the investigation. A spokesperson said the office is conferring with FDNY, Con Edison and the Department of Buildings (DOB) to decide whether more violations are warranted. NYC Sheriff Edwin Raymond said the office is committed to disrupting illicit operations that threaten public safety and health.
Key facts
- Location
- Vacant first-floor apartment, Marion Ave. near E. 195th St., Fordham, Bronx
- Time found
- Around 10:20 a.m. Monday, per police
- Plants found
- 30 adult cannabis plants
- State limit
- No more than 12 cannabis plants per household
- Unpaid rent
- More than six months, according to the building's super
- Lead agency
- NYC Sheriff's Office
- Agencies consulted
- FDNY, Con Edison, Department of Buildings
- Reported by
- Daily News, published 10/20/2026
What it means
Landlords
A unit with long-unpaid rent and little visible activity can hide illegal use that neighbors notice first. Owners may face added scrutiny, since the Sheriff's Office is checking with FDNY, Con Edison and DOB on whether more violations are warranted.
Tenants and voucher holders
Neighbors here reported a strong odor that burned their eyes and throats and worried a family with asthmatic children. Tenants who notice persistent odors or unusual traffic in a nearby unit may want to raise it with the super or owner.
Buyers and owners
Grow operations can draw interest from fire, utility and building officials, as this case shows. Any resulting violations could affect the building, though the report does not say whether any will be issued or against whom.
The highlights
- The vacant first-floor unit is on Marion Ave. near E. 195th St. in Fordham.
- The building's super said rent had not been paid in more than six months.
- The Sheriff's Office is checking with FDNY, Con Ed and DOB on further violations.
Why it matters Landlords
A unit with months of unpaid rent can hide illegal use, and city agencies may review the building for further violations.
What to do: Follow up promptly on neighbor complaints about odors or unusual traffic at a unit.
Not known yet
- Whether anyone has been arrested or charged
- Who the tenant of record was and whether they were linked to the grow operation
- Whether DOB, FDNY or Con Edison will issue violations, and to whom
- How long the grow operation had been running
Background
In New York City, evictions are carried out by City Marshals or the Sheriff after a landlord wins a judgment in Housing Court and a warrant of eviction is issued. Tenants must get advance written notice before a marshal can carry out the eviction. City Marshals are appointed by the mayor and overseen by the city's Department of Investigation. Separately, New York legalized adult-use cannabis, but home growing is limited, and larger unlicensed grows remain illegal. Indoor grows can also raise electrical and fire concerns that fall under FDNY, utility and DOB oversight.
Summary written by Bulwark from Daily News’s reporting. The original story is at nydailynews.com. This is general information, not legal advice.
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Photo: Andre Carrotflower, CC BY-SA 4.0