[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Binghamton 1-20-2015 by L.L. No. 40-2015. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A.
Legislative findings and purpose. It is the finding of the Town Board
that vacant buildings are unsightly, unsafe, and have a negative effect
on the community. Unfortunately, many buildings, once vacant, remain
that way for years. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a
program for identifying and registering vacant buildings, to set forth
the responsibilities of owners of vacant buildings, and to encourage
the rehabilitation of vacant buildings.
B.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
EMERGENCY SITUATION
OWNER
UNOCCUPIED
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
UNSECURED
VACANT BUILDING
(1)
(2)
(3)
(4)
(5)
(6)
Definitions. Unless otherwise expressly stated, the following terms
will, for the purpose of this chapter, have the meanings indicated
in this section:
The Code Enforcement Officer and any other duly authorized
Town of Binghamton employee of the Code Enforcement Office.
Where the condition of a building, structure, or any part
thereof is an imminent, immediate, and substantial danger to the health
or safety of occupants, emergency responders, and/or the general public.
Such conditions include, but are not limited to, fire hazards, falling
or dilapidated buildings, structures, or any part thereof, loss of
significant water, heat, ventilation, or a lack of sanitary conditions.
The person, persons, or entity shown to be the owner or owners
on the records of the County of Broome Real Property, those identified
as the owner or owners on a vacant building registration form, a mortgagee
in possession, a mortgagor in possession, assignee of rents, receiver,
executor, administrator, trustee, lessee, other person, firm or corporation
in control of the premises. Any such person will have joint and several
obligations for compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
A building or portion thereof which lacks the habitual presence
of human beings who have a legal right to be on the premises, including
buildings ordered vacated by the Code Enforcement Officer. In determining
whether a building is unoccupied, the Code Enforcement Officer may
consider these factors, among others:
Whether lawful residential or business activity has ceased;
The percentage of the overall square footage of the occupied
to unoccupied space or the overall number of occupied and unoccupied
units;
The building is substantially devoid of contents or the minimal
value of fixtures or personal property in the building;
The building lacks utility services;
The building is subject to a foreclosure action;
Duration of vacancy; and/or
The presence or reoccurrence of code violations.
A building or portion of a building which is open to entry
by unauthorized persons.
A building, a portion of a building, or a structure which
is any one or more of the following:
Unoccupied and/or unsecured;
Unoccupied and/or secured by other than normal means;
Unoccupied and/or an unsafe building as determined by the Code
Enforcement Officer;
Unoccupied and the Code Enforcement Officer has issued an order
to correct code violations;
Illegally occupied; or
Unoccupied for a period of time over 60 days.
C.
Vacant building registration.
(1)
The owner of a vacant building will register with the Code Enforcement
Office no later than 60 days after any building becomes a "vacant
building," as defined above, or not later than 30 days after being
notified by the Code Enforcement Officer of the requirement to register.
The Code Enforcement Officer may identify vacant buildings through
his/her routine inspection process as well as through notification
by residents, neighborhood associations and other community groups
that a building may be eligible for inclusion on the registry. Notice
will be served upon, or sent by mail to, the owner and/or any registered
property manager. Notice will be deemed received by the owner, property
manager, or an occupant, as the case may be, upon personal delivery,
or three-day delivery in Broome County or five-day delivery for other
locations after service by first-class mail. The Code Enforcement
Officer shall post a notice or placard on the property. The Town may
also post notices on the Town's website to provide additional
notice to the public. However, the Town's failure to post such
violations on the Town's website will not constitute a defense
to any enforcement proceeding or collection of fines.
(2)
The registration will be submitted on forms provided by the Code
Enforcement Office and will include the following information:
(a)
A description of the premises, i.e., square footage, number
of stories, age of the building, and most recent use of the building.
(b)
The names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the owner or
owners. If the owner is a corporation, limited liability company or
partnership, the address for each director, manager, or partner, as
the case may be. The address must include a street address; a post
office box is not acceptable.
(c)
If the owner does not reside in Broome County, the name and
address of the registered property manager. The address must include
a street address; a post office box is not acceptable.
(d)
The names and addresses of all known lien holders and all other
parties with an ownership interest in the building. Each address must
include a street address; a post office box is not acceptable.
(e)
A name, address, and telephone number of a responsible natural
person (not a corporation, partnership, or limited liability company)
who can be reached at all times during business and non-business hours.
The address must include a street address; a post office box is not
acceptable.
(3)
The owner will submit a vacant building plan which must meet the
approval of the Code Enforcement Office. The plan, at a minimum, must
contain information from one of the following three plans for the
property:
(a)
If the building is to be demolished, a demolition plan indicating
the proposed time frame for demolition;
(b)
If the building is to remain vacant, a plan for the securing
of the building, along with the procedure that will be used to maintain
the property, and a statement of the reason(s) why the building will
be left vacant; or
(c)
If the building is to be returned to appropriate occupancy or
use, rehabilitation plans for the building are required. The rehabilitation
plans will not exceed 365 days from the date of submission and will
include progress benchmarks at least every four months, unless the
Code Enforcement Office grants an extension for good cause shown upon
receipt of a written statement from the owner detailing the reasons
for the extension. Any repairs, improvements or alterations to the
property must comply with any applicable zoning and building codes,
and building permit requirements.
(4)
The owner will comply with all applicable laws and codes. The owner
will notify the Code Enforcement Office of any changes in information
supplied as part of the vacant building registration within 30 days
of the change. If the plan or timetable for the vacant building is
revised in any way, the revisions must be in writing and must meet
the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer.
(5)
The owner and any subsequent owner will keep the building secured
and safe and the building and grounds properly maintained.
(6)
Failure of the owner or any subsequent owner to maintain the building
and premises as required herein will be grounds for the Town:
(7)
The owner will notify the Code Enforcement Officer of any transfer
of ownership within 15 days of transfer. The new owner will comply
with the approved plan and timetable submitted by the previous owner
until any proposed changes are submitted and approved by the Code
Enforcement Officer.
(8)
Vacant building registration fees.
(a)
The owner of a vacant building will pay a registration fee of
$50. The fifty-dollar registration fee is due and payable upon registration;
to wit: no later than 30 days after any building becomes a "vacant
building," as defined above, or no later than 30 days after being
notified by an Enforcement Officer of the requirement to register.
(b)
If the building is to remain vacant for four months or is in
foreclosure, then the owner will also pay an annual nonrefundable
vacant building fee of $500. The five-hundred-dollar annual vacant
building fee is due and payable together with the fifty-dollar registration
fee and on each anniversary thereafter until the building is demolished,
rehabilitated or occupied following foreclosure. In a foreclosure
situation, if the property is properly secured, maintained and mowed,
then in the discretion of the Code Enforcement Officer, some or all
of the annual fee may be refunded.
(c)
If the building is to be returned to a permitted use, the rehabilitation plan will not exceed 365 days and will include progress benchmarks at least every four months, unless the Code Enforcement Officer grants an extension for good cause shown upon receipt of a written statement from the owner detailing the reasons for the extension. If the rehabilitation has not been completed or extended by the Enforcement Officer, then the owner will pay an annual vacant building fee of $500 until the building is properly demolished or rehabilitated. The five-hundred-dollar annual vacant building fee is payable either on each anniversary of the payment of the fifty-dollar registration fee in Subsection C(8)(a) above or no later than 15 days after being notified by the Code Enforcement Officer that the owner has failed to meet a required benchmark, whichever date is earlier, and on each anniversary thereafter until the building is demolished or rehabilitated.
(d)
If the owner of a vacant building fails to register and pay
the fees in a timely manner, then the owner will be subject to the
penalty set forth below.
(e)
All delinquent fees will be paid by the owner prior to any transfer
of an ownership interest in any vacant building. The owner will give
a purchaser written notice that the building in question is a vacant
building under this section.
(f)
The vacant building registration fees and annual vacant building
fees as set forth above are to be delivered, by mail or in person,
to the Code Enforcement Office, Town of Binghamton, 279 Park Ave.,
Binghamton, New York 13903. A late charge of 1 1/2% per month
or any part thereof will be assessed on any invoice which is unpaid
after 30 days from the date of the demand for payment or an invoice.
A processing fee of $25 will be charged for each check returned by
the bank due to insufficient funds or other reason. A replacement
payment must be made in cash, money order, bank or certified check,
and must include the twenty-five-dollar fee and any applicable late
charges. Invoices and any additional fees that remain unpaid will
be added to the property owner's tax bill, and will include an
additional penalty of $200.
(9)
The Code Enforcement Office will include in the file any property-specific
written statements from community organizations, other interested
parties or citizens regarding the history, problems, status or blighting
influence of a vacant building.
D.
Maintenance.
(1)
The owner of a vacant building will take such steps and perform such
acts as may be required from time to time to ensure that the building
and its grounds remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard
to the adjoining property or the public. Owners will be responsible
for maintaining their buildings and structures so that they do not
become an unoccupied hazard. In any building or floor area that is
vacant or about to become vacant, there will be at least one access
which meets the approval of the Code Enforcement Officer.
(2)
The owner will protect and maintain the exterior of the building
as follows:
(a)
Exterior walls, including foundations, will be maintained so
that water does not penetrate into basements, cellars, or other interior
areas. All exterior walls and foundations must be free of holes and
crevices.
(b)
Exterior doors, windows, skylights and similar opening will
be maintained weathertight.
(c)
Exterior stairs, porches, entrance platforms, fire escapes and
the railings thereon shall be maintained in a safe and sound condition.
(d)
Roofs shall be maintained in a weathertight condition.
(e)
Exterior surfaces shall be maintained in good condition. Surfaces
not inherently resistant to deterioration shall be treated with a
protective coating of paint or other suitable preservative.
(f)
The coverings for windows and doors with glass may not consist
of any substance sprayed onto the glass doors or windows. All enclosures
shall be properly fitted and be of such material and surface that
they are neither unsightly nor will materially detract from the general
appearance of the building or the neighborhood and, when possible,
secured by normal means.
(g)
The covering for broken doors and cracked or broken windows
may consist of replacement glass, plexiglass, boards, plywood or similar
materials finished and maintained in a manner recommended and approved
by the Code Enforcement Officer. The materials will be designed and
of such color to blend in with the finish of the building.
(h)
Windows that are not cracked or broken may be covered with interior
blinds, curtains, shades, or decorative paper.
(i)
The premises will be kept free of insects and vermin, and will
be treated if necessary.
(j)
Any excavations, swimming pools, or other attractive nuisance
must be filled in or properly closed.
(3)
In addition to the standards prescribed above, vacant commercial
and retail buildings shall comply with the following standards:
(4)
The owner will protect and maintain the interior of the building
as follows:
(5)
The owner will maintain the premises as follows:
(a)
The owner will not permit garbage and refuse to accumulate.
(b)
Buildings and structures will be maintained free of insects,
vermin and rodent harborage and infestation.
(c)
Refrigerators and similar equipment with locking mechanisms
will not be discarded, abandoned or store without first removing the
locking devices or the hinges of the doors.
(d)
Junked vehicles, equipment, or materials will not be stored
at the premises.
(e)
Chimneys, smokestacks, flues, gas vents, smoke pipes and connectors
will be maintained structurally safe and smoke-tight.
(f)
If the building is to be demolished or remain vacant, then,
within 10 days of registering the building as a vacant building, all
fuel gas, water, and utilities must be disconnected at the mains and
water pipes drained. If the building is going to be rehabilitated,
then the building must be heated to avoid freezing pipes, fuel gas
pipe systems must be maintained gastight, safe and operative condition,
and water pipes must be maintained to avoid leaks and/or breakage.
(g)
Fuel tanks will be maintained so as not to be a hazard or will
be discontinued in a manner consistent with the State Uniform Fire
Prevention and Building Code.
(h)
The domestic water supply system of the building will be connected
to an approved source, will not be subject to contamination and will
not be connected to unsafe water supplies or the system will be disconnected
at the main and completely drained.
(i)
Storm water drainage systems will be maintained so as to function
properly and be kept free from obstructions, leaks and defects. Sewage
systems will be similarly maintained or will be sealed so as to prevent
accumulation of sewage gases in buildings.
(j)
Electrical fixtures, devices, wiring and systems will be maintained
in safe working condition in a manner which will avoid a potential
source of ignition or shock or service will be discontinued at the
supply.
(k)
Elevators, dumbwaiters and escalators will be maintained or
taken out of service.
(l)
The owner will provide for snow removal.
(m)
The owner will maintain lawns, yards and vacant lots trimmed
and mowed, with the height of grass and weeds being no more than six
inches, and clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and
infestation.
(6)
Whenever the owner of a vacant building fails to comply with a notice from the Code Enforcement Officer to take steps and perform acts as are required of him or her to ensure that a building and its adjoining yards remain safe and secure and do not present a hazard to adjoining property in violation of Subsection D(2) above, the Town may enter onto the building and the property and take steps and perform acts to render the building and its adjoining yards safe, secure and free from hazards to adjoining property and public. These acts will include but not be limited to removal of dangerous conditions, properly replacing or boarding up windows and doors, shutting off utilities, capping plumbing to prevent leakage of water or sewer gas, or removing flammable or otherwise hazardous materials and debris and anything else required in Subsection D(5) above. A bill for the expenses incurred above will be presented to the owners of the building consistent with the provisions of this chapter. If the bill is unpaid, the Town can file the charges as a lien against the property and assessed on the real property tax bills.
E.
Exemptions. A building which has suffered fire damage or damage caused
by extreme weather conditions will be exempt from the registration
requirement for a period of 90 days after the date of the fire or
extreme weather event if the property owner submits a request for
exemption in writing to the Code Enforcement Office. This request
will include the following information supplied by the owner:
F.
Inspections. By registering a vacant building, an owner consents
to the Code Enforcement Officer inspecting the premises for the purpose
of enforcing and assuring compliance with the provisions of this chapter.
Upon the request of the Enforcement Officer, an owner will provide
access to all interior portions of a vacant building in order to permit
a complete inspection.
G.
Annual reports. Once a year, the Code Enforcement Officer will send
to the Supervisor and to the Town Board a list of all buildings in
the Town declared vacant under the provisions of this chapter, as
well as a list of all previously declared vacant buildings which are
no longer subject to the provisions of this chapter.
H.
Penalties for offenses. Any owner or person violating any provision
of this chapter, including failure to register, or providing false
information to the Code Enforcement Officer will be subject to the
following fines and/or penalties:
(1)
A fine of $1,000 or imprisonment not exceeding six months, or both
such fine and imprisonment.
(2)
Each day of violation will be deemed to constitute a separate offense.
(3)
Fines levied will constitute civil forfeitures to the Town of Binghamton.
(4)
The provisions of this section shall be in addition to and shall
not preclude the enforcement of this chapter by application to the
New York State Supreme Court for injunction or by any other lawful
means.
