This law shall be known as the "Minimum Housing Standards Law of the
Village of Port Chester."
It is hereby found and declared that there exist in the Village of Port
Chester, New York, structures used for human habitation which are or may become
in the future substandard with respect to structure, equipment or maintenance,
and further that such conditions, together with inadequate provision for light
and air, insufficient protection against fire hazards, lack of proper heating,
insanitary conditions and overcrowding, constitute a menace to the health,
safety, morals, welfare and reasonable comfort of its citizens. It is further
found and declared that the existence of such conditions, factors or characteristics
will, if not remedied, create slum and blighted areas requiring large-scale
clearance, and further that in the absence of corrective measures, such areas
will experience a deterioration of social values, a curtailment of investment
and tax revenue and an impairment of economic values. It is further found
and declared that the establishment and maintenance of minimum housing standards
are essential to the prevention of blight and decay and to the safeguarding
of public health, safety, morals and welfare.
The purpose of this law is to protect the public health, safety, morals
and welfare of the people of the Village of Port Chester, New York, by establishing
minimum standards governing the condition, occupancy and maintenance of dwellings,
dwelling units, rooming houses, rooming units and premises; establishing minimum
standards governing utilities, facilities and other physical components and
conditions essential to make dwellings, dwelling units, rooming houses, rooming
units and premises safe, sanitary and fit for human habitation; fixing certain
responsibilities and duties of owners, operators, agents and the occupants
of dwellings and dwelling units, rooming houses and rooming units; authorizing
and establishing procedure for the inspection of dwellings, dwelling units,
rooming houses and rooming units and the condemnation and vacation of those
dwellings and dwelling units, rooming houses and rooming units; and fixing
penalties for the violations of the provisions of this law. This law is hereby
declared to be remedial and essential to the public interest, and it is intended
that this chapter be liberally construed to effectuate the purposes as stated
above.
Every portion of a building or premises used or intended to be used for any dwelling purpose, except temporary housing, shall comply with the provisions of this law, irrespective of when such building shall have been constructed, altered or repaired and irrespective of any permits or licenses which shall have been issued for the use or occupancy of the building or premises, for the construction or repair of the building or for the installation or repair of equipment or facilities prior to the effective date of this law. This law establishes minimum standards for the initial and continued occupancy of all buildings and does not replace or modify standards otherwise established for the construction, repair, alteration or use of building equipment or facilities except as provided in § 197-5.
In any case where a provision of this law is found to be in conflict
with a provision of any zoning, building, electrical, plumbing, fire safety
or health law or any regulation adopted pursuant thereto or any other law,
code or regulation of the Village of Port Chester, New York, the provision
which establishes the highest standard shall prevail.
All departments, officials and employees of the Village of Port Chester, New York, who have the duty or the authority to issue permits or licenses in regard to the construction, installation, repair, use or occupancy of dwellings, dwelling units, rooming houses or rooming units, equipment or facilities shall conform to the provisions of this law, and no such permit or license shall be issued if such would be in conflict with this law, except as provided in § 197-5.
Nothing in this law shall be deemed to abolish or impair existing remedies
of the Village of Port Chester, New York, or its officers or agencies relating
to the removal or demolition of any buildings which are deemed to be dangerous,
unsafe or insanitary.
This law shall not affect violations of any other law, code or regulation
of the Village of Port Chester, New York, existing prior to the effective
date of this law, and such violation shall be governed and shall continue
to be punishable to the full extent of the law under the provisions of those
laws, codes or regulations in effect at the time the violation was committed.
