Town of Pittsford, NY Article VI Enforcement

§ 66-14 Notice of violation and order to remedy.

A. The Code Enforcement Office is hereby authorized to issue to an owner a notice of violation and order to remedy any condition or activity found to exist in, on or about any building or property in violation of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter. The notice of violation and order to remedy shall:

(1) Be in writing;

(2) Be dated and signed by a Code Enforcement Officer;

(3) Specify the condition or activity that violates the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter;

(4) Specify the provision or provisions of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter which are violated by the specified condition or activity;

(5) Specify the period of time which the Code Enforcement Office deems to be reasonably necessary for achieving compliance;

(6) Direct that compliance be achieved within the specified period of time;

(7) State that corrective action may be taken by the Town if compliance is not achieved within the specified period of time and that the cost of such corrective action will be the responsibility of the owner and may be added to the Town taxes, become a lien against the property; and

(8) Advising the owner of the owner's rights to a hearing before the Town Board, in accordance with the procedures set forth in Subsection C of this section.

B. The Code Enforcement Office shall cause the notice of violation and order to remedy, or a copy thereof, to be served on the owner of the affected property personally or by first-class mail. Notice will be deemed received upon personal delivery or three days in Monroe County or five days outside Monroe County after service by first-class mail.

C. Hearing on notice of violation and order to remedy. The owner so served may request and shall be granted a hearing on the matter by the Town Board, provided that such owner shall, within 48 hours after service is complete, file in the Office of the Town Clerk a signed, written notice of appeal, requesting a hearing and setting forth a brief statement of the reasons therefor. Upon receipt of such notice of appeal, the Town Clerk shall forthwith set a time and place for such hearing and shall give the person appealing notice thereof. The hearing shall be commenced not later than 20 days after the request is made, provided that for good cause the Town Supervisor, or a designee of the Town Supervisor, may postpone such hearing for a reasonable time. The Town Board shall determine such appeals as promptly as practicable. If, after the hearing, the Town Board finds that no violation exists or that such unusual, extraordinary or undue hardship shall occur as a result of strict adherence to the notice of violation and order to remedy, it shall direct the Code Enforcement Office to withdraw the notice of violation and order to remedy. If the Town Board finds that a violation does exist, it shall affirm the contents of such notice of violation and order to remedy and order compliance therewith, within the time prescribed therein.

D. Upon the failure, neglect or refusal of the owner so notified to properly comply with a notice of violation and order to remedy within the time prescribed therein, the Code Enforcement Office is hereby authorized and empowered to correct any and all violations set forth in the notice of violation and order to remedy, either by Town employees or by contract.

E. In a case where the Town has corrected any violation as a result of the failure of the owner to do so, the owner shall pay to the Town the costs thereof, within 20 days of service of a demand for payment issued by the Code Enforcement Office. Such demand for payment shall be served on the owner personally or by first-class mail and will be deemed received upon personal delivery or three days in Monroe County or five days outside Monroe County after service by first-class mail.

F. Upon the failure of the owner to pay the above costs, the costs shall be deemed to be a civil penalty against the owner, personally. Such costs, if unpaid, shall also be assessed against the property on which such building is located and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as provided in Article 15 of the Town Law for the levy and collection of a special ad valorem levy. The civil penalties provided by this subsection shall be recoverable in an action instituted in the name of the Town. The provisions of this section with respect to costs shall be in addition to any penalty imposed for violation of or noncompliance with any provision of this chapter.

G. Emergencies. If, in the judgment of the Code Enforcement Office, a public health or welfare emergency exists, the procedures required by Subsections A, B, C and of this section[1] shall not be required and the Code Enforcement Office shall immediately arrange to remedy such emergency situation with Town employees or by contract. The provisions of Subsections E and F of this section shall apply to such emergency cases.

[1] Editor's Note: So in original.

§ 66-15 Appearance tickets.

The Code Enforcement Office and each Code Enforcement Officer are authorized to issue appearance tickets for any violation of this chapter, the Uniform Code or the Energy Code.

§ 66-16 Penalties for offenses.

Any owner or operator who shall violate any provision of this chapter shall be punishable by a fine of not more than $500. Each day that a violation continues shall be deemed a separate offense.

§ 66-17 Civil penalties.

In lieu of an appearance ticket and a criminal remedy, any owner who violates any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter shall be liable to pay a civil penalty of not more than $500 for each day, or part thereof, during which such violation continues. The civil penalties provided by this section shall be recoverable in an action instituted in the name of the Town.

§ 66-18 Injunctive relief.

An action or proceeding may be instituted in the name of the Town, in a court of competent jurisdiction, to prevent, restrain, enjoin, correct or abate any violation of or to enforce any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter. In particular, but not by way of limitation, where a building or property is in violation of any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or this chapter, an action or proceeding may be commenced in the name of the Town, in the Supreme Court or in any other court having the requisite jurisdiction, to obtain an order directing the removal of the building or an abatement of the condition in violation of such provision. No action or proceeding described in this section shall be commenced without the appropriate authorization from the Town Board.

§ 66-19 Remedies not exclusive.

No remedy or penalty specified in this article shall be the exclusive remedy or remedy available to address any violation described in this chapter, and each remedy or penalty specified in this article shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the other remedies or penalties specified in this chapter or in any other applicable law. Any remedy or penalty specified in this article may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with, or after the pursuit of any other remedy or penalty. In particular, but not by way of limitation, each remedy and penalty specified in this article shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the penalties specified in Subdivision 2 of § 382 of New York State Executive Law, and any remedy or penalty specified in this article may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with, or after the pursuit of any penalty specified in Subdivision 2 of § 382 of New York State Executive Law.