[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Fonda 10-8-1990 by L.L. No. 3-1990; amended in its entirety 2-13-2001 by L.L. No. 1-2001. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
GENERAL REFERENCES
Building code administration and enforcement — See Ch. 23.
Open burning — See Ch. 36.
Littering — See Ch. 76.
Solid waste — See Ch. 138.
Structure and property requirements — See Ch. 142.
Storage of vehicles — See Ch. 157.
This chapter shall be known as the "Property Maintenance Law."
A sanitary and hazard-free environment is declared to be of vital importance to the health, welfare and safety of the inhabitants of the Village of Fonda as is the safeguarding of their material rights against unwarranted invasion and the protection of the public health. In addition, such an enforcement is deemed essential to the maintenance and continued development of the economy of the Village of Fonda and the general welfare of its citizens. Therefore, recognizing the above and the need of the community for an effective and well-regulated procedure for the disposal of garbage and rubbish and for the maintenance of residential and business premises, whether improved or vacant, the Village Board does hereby enact this chapter.
All residential and business premises located within the Village of Fonda, whether improved or vacant, shall be maintained in conformity with the provisions of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
APPLIANCE
Includes any stove, washing machine, dryer, freezer, refrigerator, or other household device or equipment abandoned, junked, discarded, wholly or partially dismantled or no longer intended or in condition for ordinary use for the purpose for which it was designed originally.
BUSINESS UNIT
A building or combination of buildings and the lot on which the same is located, used wholly or in part for commercial purposes, including, but not limited to, offices, places of public assembly, shopping centers, restaurants, supermarkets, retail stores, warehouses, manufacturing or fabrication plants, gasoline stations and other business uses.
COMMERCIAL HAULER
Any person, firm, corporation, partnership or other association engaged in the business of collecting, disposing or transporting garbage, refuse or waste material in any part of the Village of Fonda.
GARBAGE
Any refuse from animal and vegetable matter, waste food or parts thereof, refuse from kitchen, market, store or house, floor sweepings, table waste or animal or vegetable matter, meats, fish, bones, fat and all offal and organic waste substance or substances or capable of decay, but not including waste from slaughterhouses, rendering plants or sanitary disposal systems.
INFESTATION
The presence of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests.
LITTER
Garbage, refuse, and rubbish as herein defined and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare.
LOT
A plot, tract, premises of parcel of land with or without buildings or structure located thereon, as surveyed or apportioned for sale or other purpose.
MOTOR VEHICLE
Includes any and all vehicles propelled or drawn by power other than muscular power, intended for use on public highways; any unregistered, old or secondhand motor vehicle or trailer; any motor vehicle in such condition or state or repair that it cannot be licensed immediately without extensive repair; any abandoned, junked, discarded, wholly or partially dismantled motor vehicle no longer intended or in condition for legal use on the public highways or any vehicle incapable of passing a NYS inspection. This does not include inoperable farm or construction vehicles, implements, equipment or machinery retained for the purpose of salvaging usable parts in connection with the ongoing operation of an on-site farm or construction business, provided that such items are stored within a consolidated area out of the public view.
MOTORIZED EQUIPMENT
Includes, but not limited to, power machines, lawn mower, motors or parts that were once motorized equipment.
OUTDOOR STORAGE
Includes the placing, maintaining or keeping of any motor vehicle, appliance, motorized equipment, rubbish and debris as the same are defined herein in a place other than a structure with a roof and fully enclosed on all sides.
OWNER
The person having legal title to property and also the person shown as owner of the property on the current assessment rolls of the Village.
PERSON
One or more persons of either sex, natural persons, corporations, partnership, associations, joint stock companies, unincorporated associations, their agents or employees, society clubs and all other entities of any kind capable of being sued.
PRIVATE PROPERTY or PRIVATE PREMISES
Any real estate or part hereof, yard or driveway, other than that used as a public place, road, street or highway, situated in the Village, but not including lands used for agricultural purposes.
PUBLIC NUISANCE AFFECTING HEALTH
A nuisance which is a thing, act or occupation or use of property, premises, equipment or structure, either private or public, affecting the health of one or more persons.
REFUSE and RUBBISH
Plastics, combustible trash, including, but not limited to, paper, cartons, boxes, barrels, wood, excelsior, tree limbs and branches, yard trimmings, wood furniture and bedding. Also included in noncombustible trash, including, but not limited to, tires, metals, cans, plastics, metal furniture, small quantities of rock, brick and concrete, glass, metal fixtures, bottles and street rubbish, street sweepings, dirt, leaves, catch basin dirt and contents of litter receptacle, ashes, dead animals, junked vehicles, solid market and industrial wastes, cardboard, crockery or similar materials.
RESIDENT
Any person having domicile within general limits of the Village, including landlords and tenants. The term shall also include any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other association operating an established business within the limit of the Village of Fonda.
RESIDENTIAL PREMISES
A building or combination of buildings used solely for personal living purpose of the occupants thereof, whether as owners or tenants thereof, and not used for any business purposes.
WASTE MATERIAL
Includes but is not limited to waste produced by industrial or manufacturing process, including food processing waste, boiling house cinders, lumber scraps and shavings, slag, industrial sludge or other chemical waste and by-products, tires, oils, and large amount of wood, concrete, rocks, brick, sand and other wastes from building operations.
YARD
An open space on the same lot which contains a building and is located between the building line and the lot line which the particular building line faces.
The provisions of this chapter shall supplement all local laws, ordinances, codes or regulations existing in the Village of Fonda and other statutes and regulations of municipal authorities having jurisdiction applicable thereto. Where a provision of this chapter is found to be in conflict with any other provision of any existing local law, ordinances, codes or regulations, the provision or requirement which is more restrictive or which establishes the higher standard shall prevail.
A. 
Surface or subsurface water shall be appropriately drained to protect buildings and structures and to prevent the development of stagnant ponds. Gutters, culverts, catch basins, drain inlets, stormwater sewers or other satisfactory drainage systems shall be utilized where necessary. No roof, surface or sanitary drainage shall create a structural, safety or health hazard by reason of construction, maintenance or manner of discharge.
B. 
Fences and other minor construction shall be maintained in a safe and substantial condition. This section shall not apply to fences used strictly for agricultural purposes.
C. 
Steps, walks, driveways, parking spaces and similar paved areas shall be maintained so as to afford safe passage under normal use and weather conditions. Any holes or other hazards that may exist shall be filled and necessary repairs or replacement carried out.
D. 
Yards and vacant lots shall be kept clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation. They shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent dust and other particles from being blown about the neighborhood. Open wells, cesspools or cisterns shall be securely closed and barricaded from access to the public.
E. 
All land must be kept free of dead or dying trees and accumulations of brush, shrubs, weeds, grass, leaves, stumps, excessive roots or noxious growths, garbage, refuse or debris which would either tend to start a fire or increase the intensity of a fire already started or cause poisoning or irritation to people or animals or tend to cause or enhance an unhealthy or dangerous, obnoxious condition on said property or on any adjacent or neighboring property.
No outside storage or accumulation of garbage, crates, rubbish, refuse or debris shall be permitted at any time. All such garbage, crates, rubbish, refuse or debris shall be kept inside the building or buildings on the premises or in an acceptable enclosure and shall be collected regularly and removed from the premises.
A. 
Grounds, building and structures within the Village of Fonda shall be maintained free of insects, vermin and rodent harborage and infestation. Methods used for exterminating insects, vermin and rodents shall conform with generally accepted practice.
B. 
Where the potential for rodent or vermin infestation exists, windows and other openings in basements and cellars shall be appropriately screened with wire mesh or other suitable materials.
A. 
Residential and business premises with the Village of Fonda, whether improved or vacant, shall be maintained free of all litter; provided, however, that this section shall not prohibit the storage of litter for a reasonable period of time in authorized receptacles for collection.
B. 
Adequate sanitary facilities and methods shall be used for the collection, storage, handling, disposal of garbage and refuse in accordance with the provision of applicable codes.
C. 
It shall be unlawful for any person to throw, spill, place, deposit, leave or cause to be thrown, spilled, placed, deposited or left, or permit any agent, servant or employee to throw, spill, place, deposit, leave, in or upon any street, highway, alley, sidewalk, park or public building or in any running water or body of water within the Village of Fonda any garbage, refuse, rubbish, waste material, litter or filth, including, but not limited to, sewage, excrement, slops, dead carcasses, compost, ashes, soot or any material subject to be carried by the wind or unwholesome or putrescible matter of any kind.
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, as owner, occupant, lessee, agent or representative or in any capacity, to store, deposit, place, maintain or cause or permit to be stored, deposited, placed or maintained outdoors any abandoned, junked, discarded, wholly or partially dismantled or unlicensed motor vehicles or vehicle, motorized equipment, appliance, rubbish or debris as defined in this chapter upon private property within the corporate limits of the Village of Fonda, except as provided in Chapter 157, Article I, Abandoned, Junked and Discarded Vehicles.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
B. 
No appliance may be discarded, abandoned or stored in a place accessible to children without first completely removing any locking device and all doors.
It shall be unlawful for any owner, lessee or occupant or any agent, servant, representative or employee or any such owner, lessee, or occupant, having control of any occupied or unoccupied yard or any part thereof in the Village of Fonda to permit or maintain on any such street, road, highway, or alley adjacent to same between the property line and the curb or middle of the alley, or for 10 feet outside the property line if there be no curb, any growth of weeds, grass or other rank vegetation to a greater height than 10 inches on the average, or any accumulation of dead weed, grass or brush.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
A. 
It shall be unlawful for any person, as owner, lessee, agent, tenant or otherwise, to throw, cast, spill or otherwise deposit or cause or permit to be thrown, cast, spilled or deposited, any litter, rubbish and refuse, garbage manure, offal or other decomposable organic or putrescible matter in or about any land or lot, vacant or otherwise, within the Village limit.
B. 
Nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit the temporary storage of garbage, refuse and water material awaiting removal, provided that such storage is accomplished by way of tightly covered containers or cans whenever practicable, nor shall this section be construed as prohibiting the depositing of manure or fertilizers upon any private property for the purpose of cultivating or improving the same.
A. 
All exterior exposed surfaces not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be repaired, coated, treated or sealed to protect them from deterioration or weathering.
B. 
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 buildings or to the public.
C. 
The foundation walls of every building shall be maintained in good repair and be structurally sound.
D. 
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 buildings. Materials which have been damaged or show evidence of dry rot or other deterioration shall be repaired or replaced and refinished in a workmanlike manner within a reasonable amount of time. Exterior walls, roofs and other parts of the building shall be free from loose and unsecured objects and material. Such objects or materials shall be removed, repaired or replaced.
E. 
The owner of a vacated building shall take such steps and perform such acts as may be required of him or her from time to time to insure the building and its adjoining yards remain safe and secure and does not present a hazard to adjoining property or the public.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Original § 14, Sidewalks, which immediately followed this section, was repealed at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I). See now Ch. 141, Streets and Sidewalks.
A. 
An occupant or tenants of the premises shall be responsible for compliance with this chapter as if they were an owner.
B. 
Owners of premises 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 certain responsibilities on tenants or occupants and regardless of any agreement between owners and tenants or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibly.
C. 
Whenever any person or person shall be in actual possession of or have charge, care or control of any property within the Village 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 provision of this chapter to the same extent as the record owner; and notice to any such person of any order or decision of the Code Enforcement Officer 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 share responsibility with the owner for the existence of one or 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.
A. 
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of Fonda, as designated by the Village Board of such Village, shall have authority as specified herein to inspect all premises within the Village to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
B. 
Wherever it shall appear that the provisions of this chapter are being violated, the inspector shall, except upon plain review where no entry is necessary, secure approval from an owner, lessee, agent, tenant, or other person with authority, to make an inspection of the property and shall prepare a written report of the condition found.
A. 
If the condition existing on property violates the provisions of this chapter, the Code Enforcement Officer shall serve or cause to be served a written notice, by certified mail or personal service, upon the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other person with authority over said premises.
B. 
Said notice shall contain substantially the following: the name of the owner, lessee, agent or other person with authority over the premises, the identification of the premises as the same appears on the current assessment roll of the Village, a statement of the condition of the premises as found on the inspection, a demand to maintain property and/or that the motor vehicles, motorized equipment, litter, appliance, rubbish, refuse, or debris be removed from the premises on or before five days after the mailing or service of such notice.[1]
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).
C. 
Upon the failure of the owner, lessee, agent, tenant or other person with authority over the premises to correct the violation after receipt of the five days' notice, the enforcement officer shall file a complaint with the Village of Fonda Justice Court. In addition to the above-provided penalties, the Village Board may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Village in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or restrain by injunction the violation of any section of this chapter.
Where the violation or condition existing on the premises is of a nature as to constitute an immediate threat to life and limb unless abated without delay, the enforcement officer may order the owner, operator or occupant to correct the violation or condition within the period of time consistent with the hazard involved and with the measures necessary to remove the hazard; and upon the failure of the owner, operator or occupant to correct said condition, the enforcement officer may abate said condition immediately thereafter.
Where abatement of any nuisance, as defined herein, or correction of a defect on the premises or the maintenance of the premises in a proper condition to conform to applicable ordinances of the Village of Fonda or the laws of the State of New York require expenditures of the Village of Fonda moneys therefor, either by supplying labor by Village employees, the furnishing of material by the Village, the hiring of outside contractors, the enforcement officer shall present a report of the work accomplished to the Village Board of the Village of Fonda, along with a summary of the proceedings undertaken to secure compliance, including notice served upon the owner, operators, occupants or their agents as the case may be, by telephone, telegraph, etc. The Village Board shall then approve the expenditures made and assess the same against the premises, collectible as provided by law. A copy of the resolution approving said expenses shall be certified by the Village Clerk, and a copy of the report and resolution shall be sent by certified mail, return receipt requested, to the owner.
A. 
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be guilty of a violation punishable by a minimum fine of $100 and not exceeding $500 or by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. The continuation of an offense against the provisions of this chapter shall constitute, for each day the offense is continued, a separate and distinct violation hereunder.
B. 
In the event that personal injury or property damage shall result from the failure of any owner or occupant to comply with the provisions of this chapter, the owner or occupant shall be liable to all persons injured, or whose property is damaged directly or indirectly thereby, and shall be liable to the Village of Fonda to the extent that said Village of Fonda is required by law or by any court to respond in damages to any injured party.
[1]
Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).