This chapter provides for the administration
and enforcement of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and
Building Code (the Uniform Code) and the State Energy Conservation
Construction Code (the Energy Code) in this Village. This chapter
is adopted pursuant to § 10 of the Municipal Home Rule Law.
Except as otherwise provided in the Uniform Code, other state law,
or other section of this chapter, all buildings, structures and premises,
regardless of use or occupancy, are subject to the provisions this
chapter.
In this chapter, the following terms shall have
the meanings indicated:
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
73-4 of this chapter. The term "building permit" shall also include a building permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
ENERGY CODE
The State Energy Conservation Construction Code, as currently
in effect and as hereafter amended from time to time.
OPERATING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
73-10. The term "operating permit" shall also include an operating permit which is renewed, amended or extended pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
PERMIT HOLDER
The person to whom a building permit has been issued.
PERSON
Includes an individual, corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, limited partnership, business trust, estate, trust, association,
or any other legal or commercial entity of any kind or description.
UNIFORM CODE
The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code,
as currently in effect and as hereafter amended from time to time.
VILLAGE
The Village of Hudson Falls.
The chief of any fire department providing fire-fighting
services for a property within the Village shall promptly notify the
Code Enforcement Officer of any fire or explosion involving any structural
damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney or gas vent.
Unsafe structures and equipment in the Village
shall be identified and addressed in accordance with the procedures
established under Chapter 76 of the Village Code, as now in effect
or as hereafter amended from time to time.
The Code Enforcement Officer shall review and
investigate complaints which allege or assert the existence of conditions
or activities that fail to comply with the Uniform Code, the Energy
Code, this chapter or any other chapter or regulation adopted for
administration and enforcement of the Uniform Code or the Energy Code.
The process for responding to a complaint shall include such of the
following steps as the Code Enforcement Officer may deem to be appropriate:
A. Performing an inspection of the conditions and/or
activities alleged to be in violation, and documenting the results
of such inspection.
B. If a violation is found to exist, providing the owner of the affected property and any other person who may be responsible for the violation with notice of the violation and opportunity to abate, correct or cure the violation, or otherwise proceeding in the manner described in §
73-15, Penalties for offenses, of this chapter.
C. If appropriate, issuing a stop-work order.
D. If a violation which was found to exist is abated
or corrected, performing an inspection to ensure that the violation
has been abated or corrected, preparing a final written report reflecting
such abatement or correction, and filing such report with the complaint.
[Added 9-10-2007 by L.L. No. 3-2007;
amended 12-10-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012]
Any person who fails to comply with the provisions and/or directives contained in a compliance order or order to remedy issued pursuant to §
73-15A hereof, relative to violations of this chapter, or of the Uniform Code, which includes the Property Maintenance Code of New York State, shall be deemed to have committed a violation of this chapter, separate and distinct from the violation(s) of this chapter, or of the Uniform Code specified in the compliance order or order to remedy.
[Amended 12-8-2008 by L.L. No. 7-2008; 12-10-2012 by L.L. No. 7-2012]
A. Compliance orders.
(1) The Code Enforcement Officer is authorized to order in writing the
remedying of any condition or activity found to exist in, on or about
any building, structure or premises in violation of the Uniform Code,
the Energy Code, or this chapter. Upon finding that any such condition
or activity exists, the Code Enforcement Officer shall issue a compliance
order. The compliance order shall:
(b)
Be dated and signed by the Code Enforcement Officer;
(c)
Specify the condition or activity that violates the Uniform
Code, the Energy Code or this chapter;
(d)
Specify the provision or provisions of the Uniform Code, the
Energy Code or this chapter which is/are violated by the specified
condition or activity;
(e)
Specify the period of time which the Code Enforcement Officer
deems to be reasonably necessary for achieving compliance;
(f)
Direct that compliance be achieved within the specified period
of time; and
(g)
State that an action or proceeding to compel compliance may
be instituted if compliance is not achieved within the specified period
of time.
(2) The Code Enforcement Officer shall cause the compliance order, or
a copy thereof, to be served on the owner of the affected property
personally or by certified mail. The Code Enforcement Officer shall
be permitted, but not required, to cause the compliance order, or
a copy thereof, to be served on any builder, architect, tenant, contractor,
subcontractor, construction superintendent, or their agents, or any
other person taking part or assisting in work being performed at the
affected property personally or by certified mail; provided, however,
that failure to serve any person mentioned in this sentence shall
not affect the efficacy of the compliance order.
B. Appearance tickets. The Code Enforcement Officer and each inspector
are authorized to issue appearance tickets for any violation of the
Uniform Code.
C. Civil penalties. In addition to any fines or penalties prescribed
by state law for violations of any provisions of the Uniform Code,
including the New York State Property Maintenance Code and the Energy
Code, a violation of any provision of this chapter, or any term or
condition of any building permit, certificate of occupancy/compliance,
temporary certificate, stop-work order, operating permit or other
notice or order issued by the Code Enforcement Officer pursuant to
any provision of this chapter, shall be punishable by any and all
of the following:
(1) A fine in an amount up to $1,000 per violation;
(2) A fine in an amount up to $1,000 for each day or part thereof during
which such violation continues;
(3) A requirement of community service; and/or
(4) Imprisonment for a period not exceeding 15 days.
D. Injunctive relief. An action or proceeding may be instituted in the
name of this Village, 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, this chapter or
any term or condition of any building permit, certificate of occupancy/compliance,
temporary certificate, stop-work order, operating permit, compliance
order or other notice or order issued by the Code Enforcement Officer
pursuant to any provision of this chapter. In particular, but not
by way of limitation, where the construction or use of a building
or structure is in violation of any provision of the Uniform Code,
the Energy Code, this chapter or any stop-work order, compliance order
or other order obtained under the Uniform Code, the Energy Code or
this chapter, an action or proceeding may be commenced in the name
of this Village, in the Supreme Court or in any other court having
the requisite jurisdiction, to obtain an order directing the removal
of the building or structure or an abatement of the condition in violation
of such provisions. No action or proceeding described in this subsection
shall be commenced without the appropriate authorization from the
Board of Trustees.
E. Remedies not exclusive. No remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be the exclusive remedy or remedy available to address any violation described in this section, and each remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the other remedies or penalties specified in this section, in §
73-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, or in any other applicable law. Any remedy or penalty specified in this section may be pursued at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with or after the pursuit of any other remedy or penalty specified in this section, in §
73-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, or in any other applicable law. In particular, but not by way of limitation, each remedy and penalty specified in this section shall be in addition to, and not in substitution for or limitation of, the penalties specified in Subdivision 2 of § 381 of the Executive Law, and any remedy or penalty specified in this section may be pursuant at any time, whether prior to, simultaneously with or after the pursuit of any penalty specified in Subdivision 2 of § 381 of the Executive Law.
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution
of the Board of Trustees of this Village. Such fee schedule may thereafter
be amended from time to time by like resolution. The fees set forth
in, or determined in accordance with, such fee schedule or amended
fee schedule shall be charged and collected for the submission of
applications, the issuance of building permits, amended building permits,
renewed building permits, certificates of occupancy/compliance, temporary
certificates, operating permits, firesafety and property maintenance
inspections, and other actions of the Code Enforcement Officer described
in or contemplated by this chapter.
The Board of Trustees of the Village may, by
resolution, authorize the Mayor of the Village to enter into an agreement,
in the name of the Village, with other governments to carry out the
terms of this chapter, provided that such agreement does not violate
any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy Code, Part 1203 of Title
19 of the NYCRR, or any other applicable law.
If any section of this chapter shall be held
unconstitutional, invalid or ineffective, in whole or in part, such
determination shall not be deemed to affect, impair or invalidate
the remainder of this chapter.
This chapter shall take effect on January 1,
2007, or as otherwise provided for in § 27 of the Municipal
Home Rule Law.