[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Freeport as indicated in article histories. Amendments noted where
applicable.]
[Adopted 9-9-2014 by L.L.
No. 5-2014]
The Village Board finds that the proliferation of vacant and
abandoned buildings, structures and dwellings in the Village of Freeport
causes a deterioration of communities and areas within the Village
of Freeport and has a negative impact on the value of property in
close proximity to the vacant and abandoned buildings, structures
and dwellings. Furthermore, the Village Board finds that vacant and
abandoned buildings, structures and dwellings have caused a serious
threat to the safety and welfare of the residents of the Village and
had eroded the quality of life of all who live and work in the Village.
Abandoned and vacant buildings, structures and dwellings are places
of infestation of rodents, vermin, insects, wild animals and other
health-threatening creatures and diseases, provide shelter to criminals
and vagrants who use such places to evade the police and to conduct
illicit activities, and are an attractive nuisance to children and
adults alike.
For purposes of this section, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them as follows:
A building(s) or structure(s) with sheet(s) of plywood, wood
or similar material(s) in front or in place of one or more exterior
doors, other than a storm door, or of one or more windows.
Any building(s) or structure(s) wherein one or more persons
actually conducts a business or resides in all or any part of the
building as the business occupant, or as the legal or equitable owner(s)/occupant(s)
or tenant(s) on a permanent, nontransient basis, or any combination
of the same. For purposes of this article, evidence offered to prove
that a building is so occupied may include, but shall not be limited
to, the regular receipt of delivery of regular mail through the United
States Postal Service; proof of continual telephone, electric, gas,
heating, water and sewer services; a valid Village business license,
or the most recent, federal, state, or city income tax statements
indicating that the subject property is the official business or residence
address of the person or business claiming occupancy; or proof of
pre-rental inspection.
Any person, partnership, limited liability company, corporation
or other entity who, alone or jointly with others, shall have legal
title to any premises, with or without accompanying actual possession
thereof; or who shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling
unit as a cooperative shareholder or as executor, administrator, trustee,
receiver or guardian of the estate or as a mortgagee in possession,
title or control, including but not limited to a bank or lending institution,
regardless of how such possession, title or control was obtained.
A building(s) or structure(s) where no person or persons
actually currently conducts a business, or resides or lives in any
part of the building or structure as the legal or equitable owner(s)
or tenant occupant(s), or owner-occupant(s), or tenant(s) on a permanent,
nontransient basis. Or wherein electric and water accounts, inspections
by Building Department Personnel verify that the structure(s) is vacant.
A.
Vacant building registration and fees.
(1)
Any owner of any building which has been vacant for more than 120 consecutive days shall file with the Building Department a vacant building registration. Said registration shall be in a form prescribed by the Building Department which shall include the street address and parcel number of each such vacant building, the names and addresses of all owners, in accordance with Subsections A(1)(a) through (g) below, and any other information deemed necessary by the Building Department, and shall be notarized. In no instance shall the registration of a vacant building and the payment of registration fees be construed to exonerate the owner, agent or responsible party from responsibility for compliance with any other building code or housing code requirement. The registration fee(s), as required herein, shall be billed by the Building Department and shall be paid by March 1 of each year. For purposes of this section, the following shall also be applicable:
(a)
If the owner is a corporation, the names and residence addresses
of all officers and directors of the corporation shall be provided
and shall be accompanied by a copy of the most recent annual franchise
tax report filed with the Secretary of State;
(b)
If the owner is a limited liability company, the name and residence
address of the managing member;
(c)
If the owner is an estate, the name and business address of
the executor or administrator of the estate shall be provided;
(d)
If the owner is a trust, the name and address of all trustees,
grantors shall be provided;
(e)
If the owner is a partnership, the names and residence addresses
of all partners with an interest of 10% or greater shall be provided;
(f)
If the owner is any other form of unincorporated association,
the names and residence addresses of all principals with an interest
of 10% or greater shall be provided;
(g)
If the owner is an individual person, the name and residence
address of that individual person shall be provided.
B.
Fee.
(1)
The owner(s) of the vacant property(ies) shall be responsible to
register and pay the annual nonrefundable registration fee of $250.
Thereafter, said fee shall be billed by the Building Department annually
on March 1 of each year.
(2)
One vacant building registration may be filed to include all vacant
buildings situated upon a single property of an owner so registering.
The $250 fee shall apply to the property upon which the buildings
are situated. A separate fee need not be paid for each building upon
a single property.
(3)
This fee shall be charged to the owner(s) as long as the building
remains vacant. The registration fee shall increase by $250 each year,
for each year that the property remains vacant.
C.
Appeal rights. The owner shall have the right to appeal the imposition
of the registration fees to the Superintendent of Buildings, upon
filing an application, in writing, to the Superintendent of Buildings
no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the billing statement.
On appeal, the owner shall bear the burden of providing proof that
the building is occupied.
D.
One-time waiver of registration fee. A one-time waiver of the registration
fee for up to 90 days may be granted by the Superintendent of Buildings
upon application of the owner, and upon review and advice of the Village
Attorney. A one-time waiver of the registration fee for up to a ninety-day
waiver may be given if an owner provides information that they are
actively pursuing mitigation/rehabilitation funding and can be renewed
for an additional 90 days provided that this documentation is satisfied
within 30 calendar days from the date of the bill for the registration
fee, or if denied by the Superintendent of Buildings, upon appeal
to the Superintendent of Buildings if the owner:
(1)
Demonstrates with satisfactory proof that he/she is in the process
of demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the
vacant building; and demonstrates the anticipated length of time for
the demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the
vacant building; or
(2)
Demonstrates he/she is actively attempting to sell or lease the property
during the vacancy period; and
(3)
Is current on all registration fees and all other financial obligations
and/or debts owed to the Village which are associated with the vacant
property.
E.
Two-year waiver. Upon application by the owner and satisfaction of Subsection D above, the Superintendent of Buildings may grant a one-time two-year waiver of the registration fee, or if denied by the Superintendent of Buildings, upon appeal to the Superintendent of Buildings, if the owner meets the criteria for nonprofit organizations.
F.
Delinquent registration fees as a lien.
(1)
After the owner is given notice of the amount of the registration
fee due, except for those owners that have properly perfected an appeal
as provided above, by certified mail, and the owner fails to pay the
amount due within 30 days, said amount shall constitute a debt due
and owing to the Village. Ownership verification shall be by tax bill,
water bill, electric bill, assessors records, deed, or internet records
accepted by New York State Courts. This obligation shall constitute
a lien and a charge on the real property concerned until paid or otherwise
satisfied and shall be collected by the Village Treasurer in the same
manner provided by law for delinquent taxes.
(2)
Duty to amend registration statement. If the status of the registration
information changes during the course of any calendar year, it is
the responsibility of the owner, responsible party or agent for the
same to contact the Superintendent of Buildings within 30 days of
the occurrence of such changes and advise the Superintendent of Buildings,
in writing, of those changes.
(3)
Exceptions. This section shall not apply to any building owned by
the United States, the state, the county, nor to any of their respective
agencies or political subdivisions.
The Superintendent of Buildings shall maintain the vacant building
registrations in the normal course of business and shall notify the
local police, fire and ambulance services of all locations on the
registry.
Any owner, or agent of an owner acting on behalf of the owner,
who fails to register a vacant building or to pay any fees required
to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this article, within 30 days
after they become due, shall constitute a violation punishable upon
conviction thereof by a fine in the amount of not less than $1,000
nor more than $15,000 for each failure to register, or for each failure
to pay a required vacant building registration fee.
