A. 
The Building Inspector of the Town shall administer and secure compliance with the applicable housing standards.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall have such assistants and inspectors as may be necessary to carry out effectively the provisions of this chapter.
C. 
All assistants and inspectors shall be qualified and appointed by the Town Board and shall be furnished with appropriate official badges or identification cards.
D. 
The Building Inspector, all assistants and inspectors shall be free from, personal liability for acts done in good faith in the performance of their official duties.
A. 
The Building Inspector shall be charged with the duty of administering the applicable housing standards and securing compliance therewith, and the Building Inspector is empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing such compliance, provided that such rules and regulations shall not be in conflict with the applicable housing standards.
B. 
The Building Inspector shall be authorized to conduct surveys of housing in any area of the municipality to determine the condition of premises, extent of deterioration, lack of facilities, inadequate maintenance, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, extent of overcrowding, land use and other relevant factors.
C. 
It shall be the duty of the Building Inspector:
(1) 
To cause periodic inspections to be made, not less than once every five years, of all premises within the scope of applicable housing standards.
(2) 
To cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or insanitary conditions.
(3) 
To order, in writing, the remedying of all conditions found to exist in or on any premises in violation of provisions of the housing standards or of rules and regulations adopted by the Building Inspector; to state in the violation order a reasonable time limit for compliance therewith; and, where necessary, to order the vacation of premises found unfit for human habitation.
(4) 
To request the chief legal officer of the municipality to take appropriate legal action in the name of the Town upon failure of the responsible party to comply with such violation order within the time specified therein.
(5) 
To cause a search of his records of housing violations existing on any premises and to issue a certified statement thereof upon receipt of written request and payment of any fees required by local law or ordinance.
(6) 
To study housing conditions in the municipality.
(7) 
To cooperate with other municipal governmental and private agencies engaged in the study and improvement of housing conditions.
(8) 
To publish an annual report of housing conditions in the municipality, accomplishments of the Building Inspector and recommendations for the future.
D. 
Where violations of the housing standards exist and pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare of building occupants or of the public, the Building Inspector may issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such municipal agency as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate hazard or danger.
A. 
Inspectors shall be authorized and have the right, in the performance of their duties, to enter any premises during normal business hours and in emergencies whenever necessary to protect the public interest.
B. 
Owners, agents, operators and occupants shall be responsible for providing access to all parts of the premises within their control to authorized personnel acting in the performance of their duties.
The Building Inspector shall keep records of all complaints received, inspections made and violations found regarding premises regulated by the housing standards. Records shall be kept in a manner and form as prescribed by local law and shall be available for public inspection.
[Amended 4-28-1976 by L.L. No. 3-1976; 3-16-2010 by L.L. No. 1-2010; 2-10-2026 by L.L. No. 3-2026; 2-10-2026 by L.L. No. 4-2026]
A. 
Any person committing an offense against any provision of this chapter shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor punishable by a fine not exceeding $2,000 or by a term of imprisonment not in excess of three months, 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 offense hereunder.
B. 
Any provision contained in the Town Code to the contrary notwithstanding, the Town Attorney, or his/her designee, in consultation with the Town Board, in addition to or in lieu of seeking criminal penalties or seeking to restrain or enjoin activity in violation of this chapter, may enter into a civil compromise whereby the person or entity who or which committed such violation agrees to pay to the Town a civil penalty in an agreed amount. The payment of a civil penalty must be made in conjunction with an agreement on consent whereby the violator agrees to take steps to comply with the procedures set forth in the Town Code. A violation of this chapter includes, but is not limited to, the construction, alteration, repair or conversion of any building or structure or the use of any building, structure or premises in violation of this chapter or any covenant or condition imposed by the Town Board, the Zoning Board of Appeals or the Planning Board in connection with the approval of any petition or application submitted to such Board.
A. 
Owners of premises shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards and shall remain responsible therefor regardless of the fact that this chapter may also place certain responsibilities on operators and occupants and regardless of any agreements between owners and operators or occupants as to which party shall assume such responsibility.
B. 
Owners of premises shall be responsible for proper maintenance, condition and operation of service facilities and for furnishing adequate heat and hot-water supply in multiple dwellings.
Lodging house operators shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards in regard to the following:
A. 
Limiting occupancy to the maximum permitted by the housing standards.
B. 
Maintenance of safe and sanitary conditions in all parts of lodging house premises
C. 
Maintenance and operation of all required service facilities.
D. 
Maintenance of all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances within his control, as well as other building equipment and facilities, in an operative, clean and sanitary condition.
E. 
Sanitary maintenance of walls, floors and ceilings.
F. 
Keeping exits clear and unencumbered.
G. 
Disposal of the building's garbage and refuse in a clean and sanitary manner.
H. 
Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests on the premises.
I. 
Hanging and removing required screens.
Occupants of dwelling units shall be responsible for compliance with the housing standards in regard to the following:
A. 
Limiting occupancy of that part of the premises which he occupies or controls to the maximum permitted by the housing standards.
B. 
Maintenance of that part of the premises which he occupies or controls in a clean, sanitary and safe condition.
C. 
Maintenance of all plumbing, cooking and refrigeration fixtures and appliances, as well as other building equipment and storage facilities in that part of the premises which he occupies or controls, in a clean and sanitary condition and providing reasonable care in the operation and use thereof.
D. 
Keeping exits from his dwelling unit clear and unencumbered.
E. 
Disposal of garbage and refuse into provided facilities in a clean and sanitary manner.
F. 
Extermination of insects, rodents or other pests within his dwelling unit if his unit is the only one infested in the premises.
G. 
Hanging and removing required screens.
H. 
Keeping his domestic animals and pets in an appropriate manner and under control.