[HISTORY: Adopted by the Common Council of the City of Rensselaer 9-15-2004 by L.L. No.
5-2004;[1] amended in its entirety 12-2-2015 by L.L. No. 5-2018.
Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
It is the finding of the Common Council that buildings which
remain vacant are unsightly, unsafe and have a negative effect on
their surroundings. This is particularly troublesome in residential
and commercial neighborhoods. Unfortunately, many buildings, once
vacant, remain that way for many years. The purpose of this article
is to establish a program for identifying and registering vacant buildings;
to determine the responsibilities of owners of vacant buildings and
structures; and to speed the rehabilitation of the vacant properties.
Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms shall,
for the purpose of this article, have the meanings indicated in this
section:
Where the condition of a building, structure, or any part
thereof is an imminent, immediate, and substantial danger to the health
or safety of occupants, emergency responders, and/or the general public.
Such conditions include, but are not limited to, fire hazards, falling
or dilapidated buildings, structures, or any part thereof, loss of
significant water, heat, ventilation, or a lack of sanitary conditions.
A duly authorized representative of the Code Enforcement
Department.
Those shown to be the owner or owners on the records of the
City of Rensselaer's Assessor's Office, those identified
as the owner or owners on a vacant building registration form, a mortgagee
in possession, a mortgagor in possession, assignee of rents, receiver,
executor, trustee, lessee, other person, firm or corporation in control
of the premises. Any such person shall have a joint and several obligation
for compliance with the provisions of this article.
A building secured by means other than those used in the
design of the building.
A building or portion thereof which lacks the habitual presence
of human beings who have a legal right to be on the premises, including
buildings ordered vacated by an Enforcement Officer. In determining
whether a building is unoccupied, the Enforcement Officer may consider
these factors, among other:
Whether lawful residential or business activity has ceased;
The percentage of the overall square footage of the occupied
to unoccupied space or the overall number of occupied and unoccupied
units;
The building is substantially devoid of contents or the minimal
value of fixtures or personal property in the building;
The building lacks utility services;
The building is subject to a foreclosure action;
Duration of vacancy; and/or
The presence or reoccurrence of code violations.
A building or portion of a building which is open to entry
by unauthorized persons without the use of tools or ladders.
A building or portion of a building which is:
A.
The owner shall register with the Code Enforcement Office no later than 30 days after any building located in an area zoned for, or abutting an area zoned for, residential or neighborhood commercial use in the City becomes a vacant building, as defined in § 85A-2, or not later than 30 days after being notified by the Code Enforcement Office of the requirement to register. The Department may identify vacant buildings through its routine inspection process as well as through notification by residents, neighborhood associations and other community groups that a building may be eligible for inclusion on the registry.
B.
The registration shall be submitted on forms provided by the Code
Enforcement Office and shall include the following information supplied
by the owner:
(1)
A description of the premises, including but not limited to square
footage, number of stories, age of the building, and most recent use
of the building.
(2)
The names and addresses of the owner or owners. If the owner is a
corporation, limited liability company or partnership, the address
for each director, manager, or partner, as the case may be. The address
must include a street address; a post office box is not acceptable.
(3)
If the owner does not reside in Rensselaer County or any adjoining
county, the name and address of any third party with whom the owner
has entered into a contract or agreement for property management.
The address must include a street address; a post office box is not
acceptable.
(4)
The names and addresses of all known lienholders and all other parties
with an ownership interest in the building. Each address must include
a street address; a post office box is not acceptable.
(5)
A name, address and telephone number where a responsible natural
person (not a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company)
can be reached at all times during business and nonbusiness hours.
The address must include a street address; a post office box is not
acceptable.
C.
The owner shall submit a vacant building plan which must meet the
approval of the Enforcement Officer. The plan, at a minimum, must
contain information from one of the following three choices for the
property:
(1)
If the building is to be demolished, a demolition plan indicating
the proposed time frame for demolition.
(2)
If the building is to remain vacant, a plan for the securing of the building in accordance with standards provided in Article II, § 85A-12, if applicable, along with the procedure that will be used to maintain the property in accordance with Article II, and a statement of the reasons why the building will be left vacant.
(3)
If the building is to be returned to appropriate occupancy or use, a rehabilitation plan for the property. The rehabilitation plan shall not exceed 365 days from the date of submission and will include progress bench marks at least every 90 days, unless the Code Enforcement Office grants an extension for good cause shown, upon receipt of a written statement from the owner detailing the reasons for the extension. Any repairs, improvements or alterations to the property must comply with any applicable zoning, housing, historic preservation or building codes and must be secured in accordance with Article II, § 85A-12, if applicable, during the rehabilitation.
D.
The Enforcement Officer shall provide the owner with a written referral
to the Department of Community Development and Planning for information
outlining programs available which may be useful in developing the
owner's rehabilitation plan.
E.
The owner will comply with all applicable laws and codes. The owner
shall notify the Enforcement Officer of any changes in information
supplied as part of the vacant building registration within 30 days
of the change. If the plan or timetable for the vacant building is
revised in any way, the revisions must be in writing and must meet
the approval of the Enforcement Officer.
F.
The owner and subsequent owners shall keep the building secured and safe and the building and ground properly maintained as provided in Article II of this chapter. Vacant building registration shall not preclude any enforcement action, including building condemnation, as may be deemed necessary by the Enforcement Officer.
G.
Failure of the owner or any subsequent owners to maintain the building
and premises as required herein will be grounds:
H.
The owner will notify the Code Enforcement Office of any transfer
of ownership within 15 days of transfer. The new owners shall comply
with the approved plan and timetable submitted by the previous owner
until any proposed changes are submitted and meet the approval of
the Enforcement Officer.
I.
Vacant building fees.
(1)
The owner of a vacant building shall pay an annual vacant building
fee, pursuant to the schedule set forth in this section, payable upon
registration; to wit, no later than 30 days after any building becomes
a vacant building, as defined above, or no later than 30 days after
being notified by an Enforcement Officer of the requirement to register.
(2)
If the building is to remain vacant pursuant to § 85A-3C(2), then the owner will pay an annual vacant building fee of $500 for the first year. Subsequent annual fees shall be paid as follows:
(3)
If the building is to be returned to a permitted use pursuant to § 85A-3C(3), the rehabilitation plan will not exceed 365 days and will include progress bench marks at least every 90 days, unless the Enforcement Officer grants an extension for good cause shown upon receipt of a written statement from the owner detailing the reasons for the extension. If the rehabilitation has not been completed or extended by the Enforcement Officer, then the owner will pay an annual vacant building fee in accordance with the rates established above until the building is properly demolished or rehabilitated. The annual vacant building fee is payable either on each anniversary of the registration detailed in Subsection I(1) above or no later than 15 days after being notified by an Enforcement Officer that the owner has failed to meet a required bench mark, whichever date is earlier, and on each anniversary thereafter until the building is demolished or rehabilitated.
(4)
All delinquent fees shall be paid by the owner prior to any transfer
of an ownership interest in any vacant building. The owner will give
the purchaser written notice that the building in question is a vacant
building under this section.
(5)
If the owner of a vacant building fails to register and pay the fees in a timely manner, then the owner will be subject to the penalty set forth in § 85A-7 below.
(6)
The vacant building registration fee and annual vacant building fee as set forth in § 85A-3I are to be delivered, by mail or in person, to the Treasurer's Office, City Hall, 62 Washington St, Rensselaer, New York 12144. A late charge of 1 1/2% per month, or any part thereof, will be assessed on any invoice which is unpaid after 30 days from the date of the demand for payment or an invoice. A processing fee of $25 will be charged for each check returned by the bank due to insufficient funds or other reason. A replacement payment must be made in cash, money order, bank or certified check, and must include the fee of $25 and any applicable late charges. Invoices and any additional fees that remain unpaid will be added to the property owner's tax bill, and will include an additional penalty of $200.
(7)
Within 30 days of the date on which a registration form is required,
the owner of any vacant property shall provide a cash bond in the
amount of $5,000 to the Building and Zoning Administrator as security
in the event the City must secure the continued maintenance of the
property until such time as the property is again legally occupied,
sold, or transferred and to remunerate the City for any expenses incurred
in inspecting, securing, marking, maintaining, or making such property
safe.
(8)
Within three days of the date on which a registration form is required,
the owner of any vacant property shall procure liability insurance
for the property with a minimum coverage amount of $150,000 and shall
furnish the Building and Zoning Administrator with a copy of said
certificate of insurance.
J.
The Enforcement Officer shall include in the file any property-specific
written statements from community organizations, other interested
parties or citizens regarding the history, problems, status or blighting
influence of a vacant building.
A.
A building which has suffered fire damage or damage caused by extreme
weather conditions shall be exempt from the registration requirement
for a period of 90 days after the date of the fire or extreme weather
event if the property owner submits a request for exemption in writing
to the Department of Building and Planning. This request shall include
the following information supplied by the owner:
B.
The presence of a building permit, with substantial completion/rehabilitation
within 90 days as determined by the Building and Zoning Administrator,
may be used as a determining factor in exempting or removing a building
from the registry.
The Code Enforcement Office shall inspect any premises in the
City for the purpose of enforcing and assuring compliance with the
provisions of this article. Upon the request of the Enforcement Officer,
an owner may provide access to all interior portions of an unoccupied
building in order to permit a complete inspection. Nothing contained
herein, however, shall diminish the owner's right to insist upon
the procurement of a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction
by the Enforcement Officer or his or her designee in order to enable
such inspection, and the Enforcement Officer shall be required to
obtain a search warrant whenever an owner refuses to permit a warrantless
inspection of the premises after having been advised of his or her
constitutional right to refuse entry without same. In the case of
an emergency this section will not apply.
Once a year, the Code Enforcement Office shall send to the Mayor
and to the Common Council a list of all buildings in the City declared
vacant under the provisions of this article, as well as a list of
all previously declared vacant buildings which are no longer subject
to the provisions of this article.
Any person violating any provision of the vacant building registry,
including but not limited to failure to register, providing false
information to the Enforcement Officer shall be subject to the following
fines:
A.
Such person will be subject to a fine of $1,000 or imprisonment not
exceeding 15 days, or both.
B.
The term "person," as used in this section, will include the owner,
occupant, mortgagee or vendee in possession, assignee of rents, receiver,
executor, administrator, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person,
firm or corporation directly in control of the building or part thereof.
C.
Each day of violation will be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
This article shall be known as "Maintenance of Vacant Buildings"
and is supplementary to applicable provisions of the New York State
Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code.
This article provides standards governing the facilities and
the condition and maintenance of vacant premises to safeguard the
safety, health and welfare of the community.
This article shall be applicable to the following:
A.
Lots, plots or parcels of land on which buildings designed for or
developed for residential use or occupancy, mixed-occupancy buildings,
nonresidential occupancy or accessory structures are located; and
B.
Buildings designed for or developed for residential use or occupancy,
including one- and two-family dwellings and multiple dwellings, mixed-occupancy
buildings, nonresidential occupancy and accessory structures. This
article shall not apply to factory-manufactured homes.
Provision for safe and continuous entry shall be provided to
the interior of a building or structure from the exterior at a street
or to a yard, court or passageway leading to a public open area at
any time entry is necessary for purposes of required maintenance or
inspection.
A.
The covering for doors and windows may not consist of any substance
sprayed onto the window panes. All enclosures shall be properly fitted
and be of such material and surface that they are neither unsightly
nor will materially detract from the general appearance of the building
or the neighborhood and, when possible, shall be secured by normal
means.
B.
The covering for doors and windows may consist of replacement glass,
plexiglass, boards, plywood or similar materials finished and maintained
in a weathertight manner. The materials will be designed to blend
in with the finish of the building. When applicable, coverings shall
be approved by the Historic Preservation and Architectural Review
Board and the Planning Board.
C.
In addition to the standards prescribed above, vacant commercial
and retail buildings shall comply with the following standards:
(1)
Any and all first-floor windows will be replaced by glass, plywood,
plexiglass, an approved mural or announcement sign. Such covering
must be maintained.
(2)
Any and all window display areas shall be kept clean, free of hazard
and free of debris.
(3)
Any window covering shall have a clear opening of two square feet
to allow a view of the interior of the store for security and public
safety purposes. Such opening shall be installed no lower than three
feet above grade and no more than six feet above grade and may be
in either the show window or the door.
D.
If the owner shall fail to comply with the provisions of this section
regarding exterior protection, the Code Enforcement Department may,
after notice of noncompliance and intent to remedy is mailed to the
owner, perform or cause such work to be performed and may recover
the expense either by action or by local assessment on the premises,
or both. This action shall be in addition to any other available remedy
under this article.
Vehicles, equipment, and materials shall not be stored in open
areas of the premises.
Fuel gas pipe systems shall be maintained gastight, safe and
operative under conditions of use or shall be disconnected at the
main.
A.
The domestic water supply system of the building shall be connected
to an approved source, shall not be subject to contamination and shall
not be connected to unsafe water supplies or shall be disconnected
at the main and the system completely drained.
B.
Stormwater drainage systems shall be maintained so as to function
properly and be kept free from obstructions, leaks and defects. Sewage
systems shall be similarly maintained or shall be sealed so as to
prevent accumulation of sewage gases in buildings.
Electrical fixtures, devices, wiring and systems shall be maintained
in safe working condition in a manner which will avoid a potential
source of ignition or shock, or service shall be discontinued at the
supply.
Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators shall be maintained or
taken out of service, in accordance with ANSI A17.1.
A.
Any excavations or other attractive nuisance shall be filled in or
secured to prevent access. Swimming pools must be closed to prevent
access, collapse, an attractive nuisance or unsanitary conditions.
B.
It has all doors and windows and other openings weathertight and
secured against entry by the general public as well as animals.
C.
All roof and roof flashings shall be sound and tight such that no
rain will penetrate the structure and must follow appropriate drainage
so as to prevent deterioration of the interior walls or other interior
portions of the property.
D.
The building must be maintained in good repair, be structurally sound
and free from overgrown vegetation, rubbish, garbage, and other debris.
E.
Structured members of the building shall be capable of bearing both
live and dead loads and the foundation walls likewise shall be capable
of supporting an appropriate load.
F.
The exterior of the structure shall be free of loose or rotten materials
as well as holes. Any exposed metal, wood, or other surfaces shall
be protected from the elements by appropriate weather coating materials.
G.
Any balconies, canopies, signs, metal awnings, stairways, fire escapes,
or other overhanging extensions shall be in good repair, appropriately
anchored, and protected from rust with appropriate application of
paint.
H.
Any accessories or appurtenant structures, including but not limited
to garages, sheds, and other storage facilities shall meet the same
standards.
I.
The property contains a posting with the name and twenty-four-hour
contact phone number of a local individual or property management
company responsible for the maintenance. The sign must be posted on
the front of the property so it is clearly visible from the street.
J.
All bushes must be trimmed so as to provide an unobstructed view
of the front of the house from the public roadway.
K.
Sidewalks must be kept clear of snow pursuant to City code.