Village of Massapequa Park, NY Property Maintenance

Surface and subsurface water shall be drained to prevent damage to buildings and structures and to prevent development of stagnant waters. Gutters, culverts, catch basins, drain inlets, storm water sewers and sanitary sewers or other satisfactory drainage systems shall be provided and utilized. In no case shall the water from any rain leader be allowed to flow over the sidewalk of adjoining property.

All property shall be well maintained so that lawns, hedges, bushes, trees and weeds shall be trimmed so as to prevent overgrown and unsightly conditions. In no event shall any plant growth overhang or extend beyond the property line. No weeds or plant growth shall be permitted to exceed 10 inches in height.

All fences shall be maintained in a safe and attractive state and be maintained in good repair. Such maintenance shall include, but not be limited to, the replacement and/or repair of fences which may become in disrepair.

(4)

No shopping baskets, carts or wagons shall be left unattended or standing, and said baskets, carts or wagons shall be regularly collected and removed to the interior of the building or buildings from which they were taken by the person responsible for said building or buildings.

Buildings and structures.

All exterior exposed surfaces shall be repaired, coated, treated or sealed to protect them from deterioration or weathering.

Floors, walls, ceilings, stairs, furnishing and fixtures of buildings shall be maintained in a clean, safe and sanitary condition. Every floor, exterior wall, roof and porch, or appurtenance thereto, shall be maintained in a manner so as to prevent collapse of the same or injury to the occupants of the building or to the public.

Foundation walls of every building shall be maintained in good repair and be structurally sound.

(4)

Exterior walls (including doors and windows), roofs and the areas around doors, windows, chimneys and other parts of a building shall be so maintained as to keep water from entering the building. Materials which have been damaged or show evidence of dry rot or other deterioration or damage shall be repaired or replaced and refinished in a good workmanlike manner. Exterior walls, roofs and other parts of the building shall be free from loose and unsecured objects and materials. Such objects or materials shall be removed, repaired or replaced.

(5)

Each and every part of the property, including but not limited to stairs, steps, walks, walkways, driveways, parking areas and spaces and other paved surfaces shall be kept in good repair, and in a clean, sanitary and safe condition and free from any litter, debris, paper, dirt, garbage or junk. All stairs, steps, walks, walkways, driveways, parking areas and spaces and other paved surfaces and areas shall be maintained in a manner which permits for safe passage. Any holes or other hazards that may exist shall be filled, or necessary repairs or replacement carried out. All driveways and parking spaces shall be covered with a dustless surface, and such driveways and parking spaces shall be regularly cleaned to avoid accumulation of dirt, paper or any debris. Any and all sidewalks shall be kept free from snow and ice. In removing such snow or ice, no person shall put the same in the gutter or drain of the street or in any manner fill up or obstruct any such gutter or drain.

(6)

Vacant buildings shall be maintained in a condition that does not present a hazard to adjoining properties, buildings, structures or to the public.

(7)

All property, buildings and structures shall be maintained free of insects, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Insects, rodents or other pests shall be exterminated or caused to be exterminated and methods used for such extermination shall conform with generally accepted practices and comply with all applicable law.

(8)

No building or structure shall be permitted to exist with graffiti. Graffiti shall be removed and the building or structure restored. For purposes of this subsection, "graffiti" is defined as any writing, painting, drawing, staining, carving, etching or other marking, made by use of chalk, paint, ink, aerosol spray can, knife, pencil or any other marking device and/or material, of any word, name, lettering, inscription, figure, design, or other representation, made upon a portion of a building or structure without the consent of the owner. Signs with proper sign permits or approval are expressly not included in the definition of graffiti.

(9)

Blighted property is prohibited. In determining whether a property shall be designated as blighted, the following factors shall be considered by the Building Inspector:

(a)

Boarded windows, doors, entryways or exits;

(b)

Broken or unsecured windows;

(c)

Excessive litter or debris;

(d)

Overgrown grass at least 10 inches or higher or other overgrown vegetation or shrubbery;

(e)

More than one unregistered motor vehicle;

(f)

Roofs, gutters, siding/shingles, chimney, shutters, and/or accessory structures, including, but not limited to, decks, sheds, porches, pools, pool houses or cabanas, garages, carports, storage units, front and rear porches, outside statuary, and/or fish ponds which are broken, unsecured, or in disrepair;

(g)

Junk vehicles, salvage, or scrap property;

(h)

Damaged, unsightly, unsecured or unpermitted signage or awnings;

(i)

Graffiti;

(j)

Fencing which is broken, unsecured or in disrepair;

(k)

Outdoor lighting fixtures which are broken, unsecured or in disrepair;

(l)

Electrical wires, electrical equipment or extension cords which are broken, exposed or hazardously utilized;

(m)

Unfinished or abandoned construction;

(n)

Damaged, dead or fallen trees or limbs;

(o)

Fire damage to property which has not been repaired or restored;

(p)

Peeling or deteriorated paint;

(q)

Stagnant water;

(r)

Open or unsecured wells, cesspools or cisterns;

(s)

Vermin, rodent harborage or infestation;

(t)

Any other factors deemed by the Building Inspector to pose significant threat to the safety, health and/or general welfare of the Village; and

(u)

Presence within/upon an outdoor area or the improper storage of:

[1]

Refrigerator, washing machine, sink, stove, heater, boiler, tank, other household appliances, boxes or indoor furniture for a period in excess of 72 consecutive hours; and/or

[2]

Lumber, construction materials, dirt, debris, trash, garbage or uncovered refuse cans, accumulated refuse or garbage in covered refuse cans which is not timely or properly disposed of.

§ 254-4 Parties responsible.

It shall be a violation of this chapter for any person, owner or occupant to create, cause, maintain or cause to, or permit to, continue or to fail to abate, correct or remove any condition that is prohibited by this chapter. For purposes of this chapter, "any person" shall include the owner, occupant, tenant, mortgagee or vendee in possession, mortgagee when the owner or occupant has caused or allowed the property to deteriorate or otherwise fall into a state of disrepair or blight, a mortgagee who has commenced the foreclosure process, the operator, assignee of rents, receiver, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm, or corporation directly or indirectly in control of property or part thereof.

§ 254-5 Additional responsibilities of owners.

Owners of property shall be responsible for compliance with the provisions of this chapter and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place responsibilities on operators, occupants and others and regardless of any agreements between owners, operators, occupants or others as to which party shall assume such responsibility.

Whenever any person or persons shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care or control of any property within the Village of Massapequa Park as executor, administrator, trustee, guardian, operator or agent, such person shall be deemed and taken to be the owner or owners of said property within the true intent and meaning of this chapter and shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the same extent as the record owner, and notice to any such person or any order or decision of the Building Inspector shall be deemed and taken to be a good and sufficient notice, as if such person or persons were actually the record owner or owners of such property. In instances where an occupant is responsible or shares responsibility with the owner for the existence of one of more violations of this chapter, said occupant shall be deemed and taken to be an owner within the true intent and meaning of this chapter.

§ 254-6 Additional responsibilities of mortgage holders.

The mortgage holder shall immediately notify the Village, in writing, of its notice to the owner of the owner's failure to maintain the property. Upon the commencement of foreclosure proceedings the mortgage holder shall also immediately notify the Village, in writing, of such action. Commencement of a foreclosure proceeding shall be defined in this chapter as the service of a notice of foreclosure upon a property owner.

Upon either of the contingencies set forth in § 254-6A, the mortgage holder shall also deposit with the Village a sum determined by the Building Inspector to be sufficient for the maintenance and repair of the property. The Building Inspector shall have the authority to reduce or waive the deposit.

§ 254-7 Inspection authorization.

The Building Inspector is hereby authorized and directed to make all inspections necessary to determine whether compliance with the provisions of this chapter exists. For the purpose of making such inspections, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized to enter, examine and survey at all reasonable times all dwellings, dwelling units and premises. The owner or occupants of every dwelling or dwelling unit, or the person in charge thereof, shall give the Building Inspector free access to such dwelling or dwelling unit and its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of such inspection, examination and survey. Every occupant of a dwelling or dwelling unit shall give the owner thereof, or his agent or employee, access to any part of such dwelling or dwelling unit or its premises at all reasonable times for the purpose of making such repairs or alterations as are necessary to effect compliance with the provisions of this chapter or with any lawful rule or regulation adopted or any lawful order issued pursuant to the provisions of this chapter.

In the event that permission to enter any such dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming house, rooming unit or boardinghouse for the purpose of inspection is denied, the Building Inspector may apply to the appropriate authority for a search warrant.

A warrant shall not be required:

When entry is by permission or at the request of the owner or occupant.

Where an imminent danger to health and safety exists.

Following an accident or inherent condition where immediate inspection is required to determine if an imminent danger to health or safety exists.

§ 254-8 Notice to remedy prohibited conditions and enforcement.

The Building Inspector or any other enforcement officer appointed by the Building Inspector of the Village of Massapequa Park shall be charged with the duty of administering and enforcing this chapter.

It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector or any other duly appointed enforcement officer of the Village of Massapequa Park to issue a notice of violation to order in writing the correction of all conditions found to exist in or on any premises which violate the provisions of this chapter. Alternatively, the Building Inspector may, in his sole discretion, issue an appearance ticket pursuant to Article 150 of the Criminal Procedure Law.

If a notice of violation is issued it shall be served either personally or by posting. If a notice of violation is served by posting, it shall be posted in a conspicuous place upon the premises of the person(s) charged with the violation, and a copy thereof shall be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the person(s) charged. If the person so charged is not the owner, the notice shall also be mailed by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner.

A notice of violation shall state that, unless, within 10 calendar days from service of the notice of violation, five calendar days for violations relating to grass, vegetation or shrubbery, a written request is made for a hearing before the Building Inspector, the notice of violation shall, at the expiration of such ten-day period, or five calendar days, as the case may be, be deemed an order to cease and desist from and to abate, correct or remove the offending conditions; such notice shall prescribe a reasonable time within which such person shall be required to cease and desist from and abate, correct or remove such violative condition.

Within five calendar days of receipt of a request for a hearing, the Building Inspector in his sole discretion shall advise in writing whether the hearing will be conducted upon written submissions or will require personal appearance(s). If personal appearance is required, the hearing shall be commenced no later than 15 calendar days after the request for hearing is made, provided that, for good cause, the Building Inspector may postpone such hearing for a reasonable time. If, after the hearing, the enforcement officer finds that no violation exists, or that unusual, extraordinary or undue hardship exists, he shall withdraw the notice of violation. If the Building Inspector finds that a violation exists, he shall issue a decision ordering the abatement, correction or removal of same within a prescribed reasonable time. The decision of the Building Inspector shall be issued within seven calendar days of the hearing. In the event that the hearing is conducted upon written submissions, the decision shall be issued within seven days of the date the written submissions were submitted.

Any party aggrieved by the decision of the Building Inspector may, within five calendar days of the Building Inspector's decision, appeal the decision to the Zoning Board of Appeals of the Village of Massapequa Park.

§ 254-9 Action for noncompliance.

If the violative condition is not abated, corrected or removed within 20 calendar days, five calendar days for violations relating to grass, vegetation or shrubbery, after the cease and desist order or decision, as the case may be, the Building Inspector is hereby authorized and empowered to pay for the abatement, correction or removal of the conditions in violation of this chapter, or to have the condition(s) abated, corrected or abated.

In the event that the Village of Massapequa Park has abated, corrected or removed the offending conditions or has paid for such abatement, correction or removal, the actual cost thereof, plus the accrued legal rate of interest per annum from the date of the completion of the work shall be charged to the parties responsible, as set forth in § 254-4, or the owner of the offending property, building or structure, as the case may be, and such charge shall become due and payable at the time of the present amount of such bill. A copy of the invoice shall be mailed to the persons charged with the violation by certified mail, return receipt requested. The owner, or other parties responsible, may, within 10 calendar days of receipt of the invoice, request a hearing before the Building Inspector to challenge the reasonableness of the fees.

In the event no hearing is requested to challenge the reasonableness of the fees, and the full amount due the Village of Massapequa Park specified in Subsection B remains unpaid 20 calendar days following the mailing of the invoice for the cost associated with the abatement, correction or removal, then in that case, the Building Inspector shall cause to be filed in the office of the Village Clerk a sworn statement showing the cost and expense incurred for the work, the date the work was completed and the location of the property by section, lot and block on which said work was done and the name of the reputed owner thereof. The filing of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and privilege on the property and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principal and interest, plus cost of court, if any, for collection, until final payment has been made. Said costs and expenses shall be a lien on the property and shall be collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of taxes, and, further, shall be subject to a delinquent penalty at the rate of interest in the event that the same is not paid in full on or before the date the tax bill upon which such charge appears becomes delinquent. Sworn statements filed in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be prima facie evidence that all legal formalities have been complied with and the work has been properly and successfully done and shall be full notice to every person concerned that the amount of the statement, plus interest, constitutes a statement that the same is due and collectible as provided by law.

§ 254-10 Supplemental regulations for blighted properties.

Where the Building Inspector designates that a property is blighted in accordance with § 254-3B(9), notice of such violative condition shall be served in accordance with § 254-8.

In the event that the property remains in a blighted condition, the Village shall have the right to seek the remedies set forth in § 254-9. If the blighted conditions have not been abated, corrected or removed to the satisfaction of the Building Inspector, within 20 days of the cease and desist order or decision, as the case may be, as set forth in § 254-9, the Building Inspector shall have the right, in addition to the remedies and penalties set forth in §§ 254-9 and 254-11, to place the blighted property on the "Incorporated Village of Massapequa Park Blighted Property Registry."

Upon the placement of blighted property upon the "Incorporated Village of Massapequa Park Blighted Property Registry," notice shall be served upon the owner and other responsible parties, as the case may be, that the property has been placed upon the registry and that a registration fee as set forth herein shall be assessed to the property within 15 days of the notice. The parties responsible may request a hearing before the Building Inspector to challenge the reasonableness of the registration fee. A registration fee shall be assessed as follows: $5,000 for each commercial blighted property; $2,500 for each residential blighted property.

In the event no hearing is requested to challenge the reasonableness of the registration fee, and the full amount of the registration remains unpaid 20 calendar days following the mailing of the notice, the Building Inspector shall cause to be filed in the office of the Village Clerk a sworn statement showing the amount unpaid. The filing of such sworn statement shall constitute a lien and privilege on the property and shall remain in full force and effect for the amount due in principal and interest, plus cost of court, if any, for collection, until final payment has been made. Said costs and expenses shall be a lien on the property and shall be collected in the manner fixed by law for the collection of taxes, and, further, shall be subject to a delinquent penalty at the rate of interest in the event that the same is not paid in full on or before the date the tax bill upon which such charge appears becomes delinquent. Sworn statements filed in accordance with the provisions hereof shall be prima facie evidence that all legal formalities have been complied with and shall be full notice to every person concerned that the amount of the statement, plus interest, constitutes a statement that the same is due and collectible as provided by law.

The Building Inspector may reduce or waive the registration fee, provided the responsible parties enter into a restoration agreement and the following conditions are satisfied:

The existence of a valid certificate of occupancy or application therefor;

There are no other outstanding violations; and