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 the Town of Tusten. 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.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
BUILDING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
126-4 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 §
126-10 of this chapter. 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.
The Chief of any Fire Department providing fire-fighting services
for a property within the Town of Tusten shall promptly notify the
Code Enforcement Officer of any fire or explosion involving any structural
damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney or gas vent.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
Unsafe structures and equipment in the Town of Tusten shall be identified and addressed in accordance with Chapter
131, Dangerous Buildings, of the Town Code.
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 local law 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 §
126-15 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.
[Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General
Provisions, Art. I)]
A. The Code Enforcement Officer shall keep permanent official records
of all transactions and activities conducted by all code enforcement
personnel, including records of:
(1) All applications received, reviewed and approved or denied;
(2) All plans, specifications and construction documents approved;
(3) All building permits, certificates of occupancy and/or certificates
of compliance, temporary certificates, stop-work orders, and operating
permits issued;
(4) All inspections and tests performed;
(5) All statements and reports issued;
(7) All investigations conducted;
(8) All other features and activities specified in or contemplated by §§
126-4 through
126-12, inclusive, of this chapter; and
(9) All fees charged and collected.
B. All such records shall be public records open for public inspection
during normal business hours. All plans and records pertaining to
buildings or structures, or appurtenances thereto, shall be retained
for at least the minimum time period so required by state law and
regulation.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
A. The Code Enforcement Officer shall annually submit to the Town Board a written report and summary of all business conducted by the Code Enforcement Officer and the inspectors, including a report and summary of all transactions and activities described in §
126-13, Recordkeeping, of this chapter and a report and summary of all appeals or litigation pending or concluded.
B. The Code
Enforcement Officer shall annually submit to the Secretary of State,
on behalf of the Town, on a form prescribed by the Secretary of State,
a report of the activities of the Town relative to administration
and enforcement of the Uniform Code.
C. The Code
Enforcement Officer shall, upon request of the New York State Department
of State, provide to the New York State Department of State, from
the records and related materials the Town is required to maintain,
excerpts, summaries, tabulations, statistics and other information
and accounts of the activities of the Town in connection with administration
and enforcement of the Uniform Code.
[Added at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions,
Art. I)]
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 registered or 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 registered or 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 those penalties prescribed by state law,
any person who violates any provision of the Uniform Code, the Energy
Code or this chapter, or any term or condition of any building permit,
certificate of occupancy and/or certificate of 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 liable to a civil penalty of not more than
$200 for each day or part thereof during which such violation continues.
The civil penalties provided by this subsection shall be recoverable
in an action instituted in the name of this Town.
D. Injunctive
relief. An action or proceeding may be instituted in the name of the
Town 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 and/or certificate
of 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 the Town 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
Town Board.
E. Remedies not exclusive. No remedy or penalty specified in this section shall be the exclusive remedy or penalty 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 §
126-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, in any other section 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 §
126-6, Stop-work orders, of this chapter, in any other section 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 § 382 of the Executive Law, and 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 penalty specified in Subdivision 2 of § 382 of the Executive Law.
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Town
of Tusten Town Board. 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/certificates of compliance, temporary certificates,
operating permits, fire safety and property maintenance inspections,
and other actions of the Code Enforcement Officer described in or
contemplated by this chapter.
The Town of Tusten Town Board may, by resolution, authorize
the Code Enforcement Officer to enter into an agreement, in the name
of the Town of Tusten, 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.