Village of Ossining, NY: Abandoned signs.

§ 162-18 Abandoned signs.

An abandoned sign is any sign which advertises, identifies or pertains to an activity no longer in existence for at least 30 consecutive days. This section does not apply to seasonal activities during regular period when the activity is closed.

The Building Department shall send a notice by certified mail to the property owner advising:

(1)

The location of the sign including section, block and lot number for the property;

(2)

A description of the sign;

(3)

That the sign is considered abandoned as the advertised or identified activity has not continued for at least 30 consecutive days;

(4)

That the owner is directed to remove the sign within 20 days of the notice;

(5)

That the owner must obtain all required permits from the Building Department before the sign can be removed;

(6)

That the time to remove the sign may be extended by the Building Inspector upon a showing of good cause, however, such extension shall not exceed 60 days;

(7)

That if the owner does not timely remove the abandoned sign, the Building Inspector will notify the Village Engineer to arrange for the sign's removal; and

(8)

If the Village removes the sign, the cost of the sign removal may be added to the tax roll for the property.

After the removal of the sign by the Village, or by a contractor retained by the Village, the Building Department shall send a notice of proposed assessment of costs to the property owner by certified mail. That notice will include the amount of the assessment including a 20% administrative fee; the date, time and location when the Board of Trustees will hear and determine any objections to the proposed assessment; that the Board of Trustees will determine an assessment that is just and reasonable and that in the event of a default, the assessment will not be greater than the amount in the notice. The notice also will include a statement that if the assessment is not paid to the Village Treasurer within 30 days of the determination by the Board of Trustees, the Village may commence an action to recover the amount of the assessment; issue a special warrant as directed by the Board of Trustees; or that the amount of the assessment may be included in the next annual tax levy to be collected and enforced in the same manner as real property taxes.

Penalties for offenses. Upon conviction, the penalty for failure to remove an abandoned sign shall be a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2,000. Every violation shall be a separate and distinct offense, and in the case of continuing violations, every day thereof shall be considered a separate and distinct offense.