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 Rotterdam. Except as otherwise
provided in the Uniform Code, the Energy Code, other state law, or
this chapter, all buildings, structures, and premises, regardless
of use or occupancy, are subject to the provisions of this chapter.
As used in this chapter, the terms set forth below shall be
defined as set forth herein.
ASSEMBLY AREA
An area in any building, or in any portion of any building,
that is primarily used or intended to be used for the gathering 50
or more persons for uses, including, but not limited to, amusement,
athletic, entertainment, social, or other recreational functions;
patriotic, political, civic, educational, or religious functions;
food or drink consumption; awaiting transportation; or similar purposes.
BUILDING PERMIT
A building permit, construction permit, demolition permit,
or other permit that authorizes the performance of work, along with
any renewals, amendments, or extensions thereof, pursuant to any provision
of this chapter.
CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE
A document issued by the Town stating that work was done
in compliance with approved construction documents and the codes.
CERTIFICATE OF OCCUPANCY
A document issued by the Town certifying that the building
or structure, or portion thereof, complies with the approved construction
documents that have been submitted to, and approved by the Town, and
indicating that the building or structure, or portion thereof, is
in a condition suitable for occupancy.
CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER
The Senior Building Inspector, or such other official appointed to administer and enforce the Uniform Code and the Energy Code pursuant to §
89-3B of this chapter.
CODE ENFORCEMENT PERSONNEL
The Code Enforcement Officer and/or any inspectors. Where
the use of the term "Code Enforcement Personnel" in this chapter is
to be construed as referring to one or more inspectors in relation
to fulfilling a particular duty or exercising a particular power,
such term shall be deemed to mean and refer only to those inspectors
who operate pursuant to a lawful appointment or description of job
responsibilities and duties that includes within its scope such particular
duty or particular power, whether generally or specifically itemized.
CODES
The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code
and New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code adopted pursuant
to Article 11 of the Energy Law, as may be in effect from time to
time.
ENERGY CODE
The New York State Energy Conservation Construction Code
adopted pursuant to Article 11 of the Energy Law, as may be in effect
from time to time.
FCNYS
The 2020 Fire Code of the State of New York, as may be in
effect from time to time, or such other fire code of the State of
New York as may be in effect and incorporated by reference in 19 NYCRR
Part 1225 or its successor.
FIRE SAFETY AND PROPERTY MAINTENANCE INSPECTION
An inspection performed to determine compliance with the
applicable provisions of 19 NYCRR Part 1225, or its successor, and
the publications incorporated therein by reference as may be in effect
from time to time, and the applicable provisions of 19 NYCRR Part
1226, or its successor, and the publications incorporated therein
by reference as may be in effect from time to time.
HAZARDOUS PRODUCTION MATERIALS
A solid, liquid, or gas associated with semiconductor manufacturing
that has a degree-of-hazard rating in health, flammability, or instability
of Class 3 or 4, as ranked by NFPA 704 (Standard Systems for Identification
of the Hazards of Materials for Emergency Response), as in effect
from time to time, and which is used directly in research, laboratory,
or production processes which have, as their end product, materials
that are not hazardous.
INSPECTOR
An official appointed pursuant to §
89-3D of this chapter to act under the supervision and direction of the Code Enforcement Officer and to assist the Code Enforcement Officer in the exercise of powers and fulfillment of duties conferred on the Code Enforcement Officer by this chapter, to the extent such assistance, exercise and fulfillment is within the scope of the description of such official's job responsibilities and duties and is consistent with the Chapter.
MOBILE FOOD PREPARATION VEHICLES
Vehicles that contain cooking equipment that produces smoke
or grease-laden vapors for the purpose of preparing and serving food
to the public. Vehicles intended for private recreation shall not
be considered food preparation vehicles.
OPERATING PERMIT
A permit issued pursuant to §
89-10 of this chapter, along with any renewals, amendments, or extensions thereof, pursuant to any provision of this chapter.
PERMIT HOLDER
The person to whom a permit has been issued pursuant to this
chapter.
PERSON
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.
PMCNYS
The 2020 Property Maintenance Code of the State of New York,
as may be in effect from time to time, or such other property maintenance
code of the State of New York as may be in effect and incorporated
by reference in 19 NYCRR Part 1226 or its successor.
RCNYS
The 2020 Residential Code of the State of New York, as may
be in effect from time to time, or such other residential code of
the State of New York as may be in effect and incorporated by reference
in 19 NYCRR Part 1220 or its successor.
REPAIR
The reconstruction, replacement or renewal of any part of
an existing building for the purpose of its maintenance or to correct
damage.
SUGARHOUSE
A building used, in whole or in part, for the collection,
storage, or processing of maple sap into maple syrup and/or maple
sugar.
TOWN
The Town of Rotterdam.
UNIFORM CODE
The New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code,
Subchapter A of Chapter XXXIII of Title 19 of the NYCRR, adopted pursuant
to Article 18 of the Executive Law, as may be in effect from time
to time.
The Chief of any Fire Department or company providing firefighting
services for a property within this Town shall promptly notify the
Code Enforcement Officer of any fire or explosion involving any structural
damage, fuel-burning appliance, chimney, or gas vent.
Unsafe buildings, structures, and equipment and conditions of imminent danger in this Town shall be identified and addressed in accordance with the procedures established by Chapter
90 of the Town Code of the Town of Rotterdam, as now in effect or as hereafter amended from time to time, and it successor(s).
The Code Enforcement Personnel 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, ordinance, 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 Personnel 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 the notice of the violation and opportunity to abate, correct or cure the violation, or otherwise proceeding in the manner described in §
89-17 (Remedies, appearance tickets; penalties for offenses; injunctive relief) 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.
A fee schedule shall be established by resolution of the Town
Board. Such fee schedule may thereafter be amended from time to time
by resolution. The fees set forth therein, or determined in accordance
therewith, 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
Personnel described in or contemplated by this chapter.
The Town Board may, by resolution, authorize the Supervisor
to enter into an agreement in the name of the Town, 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.