Unsafe buildings pose a threat to life and property in the Village of Massena. Buildings and structures may become unsafe by reason of damage by fire, the elements, age or general deterioration. Vacant buildings not properly secured at doorways and windows also serve as an attractive nuisance for young children who may be injured therein, as well as point of congregation by vagrants and transients. A dilapidated building may also serve as a place of rodent infestation, thereby creating a health menace to the community. It is the purpose of this chapter to provide for the safety, health protection and general welfare of persons and property in the Village of Massena by requiring such unsafe buildings be repaired or demolished and removed.
[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village of Massena 4-21-1981 by L.L. No. 3-1981; amended in its entirety 12-18-1990 by L.L. No. 13-1990. Subsequent amendments noted where applicable.]
This chapter shall be known as the "Unsafe Buildings Law of the Village of Massena."
[Amended 10-16-1984 by L.L. No. 9-1984; 5-20-2025 by L.L. No. 4-2025]
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Any building, structure or portion thereof used for residential, business or industrial purpose.
The Code Enforcement Officer of the Village of Massena or such other person appointed by the Village Board to enforce the provisions of this chapter.
A structure is unfit for human occupancy whenever the structure is so unsafe, unlawful, or in such level of disrepair or lack of maintenance that the structure constitutes a hazard to the occupants thereof or to the public.
Unsafe equipment includes any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device, flammable liquid containers or any other item on the premises or within the structure that is a hazard to the life, health, property or safety of the public or occupants of the premises or structure.
An unsafe structure is one that satisfies any of the criteria set forth in § 120-4 below, or is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or to the occupants of the structure by not providing minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of fire; or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is damaged, decayed, dilapidated, or structurally unsafe; or is of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that partial or complete collapse is possible; or is a vacant structure that is not secured.
[Amended 5-20-2025 by L.L. No. 4-2025]
A building is, or may become dangerous or unsafe to the general public if:
A.
It is open at the doorways making it accessible or an object of attraction to minors, vagrants and/or other trespassers.
B.
Its interior walls or other vertical structural members list, lean or buckle to such an extent that a plumb line passing through the center of gravity falls outside the middle third of its base.
C.
Exclusive of its foundation, it shows 33% or more of damage to or deterioration of the supporting member or members, or 50% of damage to or deterioration of the non supporting, enclosing or outside walls or covering.
D.
It has improperly distributed loads upon the floors or roofs or in which the same are overloaded or which have insufficient strength to be reasonably safe for the purpose used.
E.
It has been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of this Village.
F.
It has become or is so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe or unsanitary, or utterly fails to provide the amenities essential to decent living that it is unfit for human habitation or is likely to cause sickness or disease so as to work injury to the health, safety or general welfare of those living therein or adjacent thereto.
G.
It has light, air and sanitation facilities which are inadequate to protect the health, safety or general welfare of human beings who live or may live therein, with particular reference to the requirements of the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as a determinant.
H.
It has inadequate facilities for egress in cases of fire or panic, or has insufficient stairways, elevators, fire escapes or other means of access or egress, again referencing the New York State Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code as a determinant.
I.
It has parts which have become so detached they may fail and injure members of the public or others' property.
J.
Is or may become a place of rodent infestation.
K.
Presents any other danger to the health, safety, morals or general welfare of the public.
L.
Is unfit for the purposes for which it may be lawfully used.
M.
Contains unsafe equipment.
Upon complaint about a building or on his own volition the Code Enforcement Officer will cause to be made or make himself an inspection thereof and report, in writing, to the Village Board his findings and recommend actions as to repair or demolition or removal.
A.
The Village Board shall thereafter consider such report and by resolution call for a hearing on the report. That resolution, if it seems proper, will direct notice to the owner of the property as listed in the current tax rolls and any other persons that the Board may deem appropriate. The Board shall conduct the hearing, or may by order appoint a disinterested person to do so. After hearing all testimony, the Board or its appointed hearing office shall determine, in writing, if the building is unsafe and, if so, whether it is to be repaired or demolished and removed.
B.
In the event that the building or other structure shall be unsafe or dangerous under such report, the Village Board may also request the Corporation Counsel to make an application to the Supreme Court for an order determining the building or other structure to be a public nuisance and directing that it shall be repaired and secured or taken down and removed. The decision of the Village Board to bring such application does not waive its right to call for a hearing on the report.
[Added 8-6-1996 by L.L. No. 5-1996]
The notice shall contain the following:
A.
A description of the premises.
B.
A statement of the particulars in which the building is unsafe or dangerous.
C.
An order outlining the manner in which the building is to be made safe and secure or demolished and removed.
D.
A statement that the securing or removal of such building shall commence within 30 days of the service of the notice and shall be completed within 60 days thereafter, unless for good cause shown such time shall be extended.
E.
A date, time and place for the hearing, which shall be scheduled not less than five business days from the date of service of the notice.
F.
A statement that, in the event of neglect or refusal to comply with the order to secure or demolish and remove the building, the Village Board is authorized to provide for its demolition and removal, to assess all expenses thereof against the land on which it is located and to institute a special proceeding to collect the costs of demolition, including legal expenses.
Said notice shall be served:
A.
By personal service of a copy thereof upon the owner, executor, administrator, agent, lessee or any person having a vested or contingent interest in such unsafe building as shown by the records of the Receiver of Taxes (or Tax Collector) or of the County Clerk; or, if no such person can be reasonably found, by mailing such owner, by certified mail, return receipt requested, a copy of such notice directed to his last known address as shown by the above records; and
B.
By personal service of a copy of such notice upon any adult person residing in or occupying said premises if such person can be reasonably found; and
C.
By securely affixing a copy of such notice upon the unsafe building.
A copy of the notice served as provided herein shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk of the County of St. Lawrence.
If the owner fails or neglects to comply with the order of the Village Board within 20 working days (Monday through Friday, excluding holiday), after service as provided in § 120-8, the Village Board shall order the repair or the demolition and removal of the building.
All expenses incurred by the Village in connection with the proceedings to repair and secure or demolish and remove the unsafe building, including the cost of actually removing such building, shall be assessed against the land on which such building is located and shall be levied and collected in the same manner as provided in Article 5 of the Village Law for the levy and collection of a special ad valorem levy.
[Amended 5-20-2025 by L.L. No. 4-2025]
A.
Where it reasonably appears that there is present a clear and imminent danger to the life, safety or health of any person or property, unless an unsafe building is immediately repaired and secured or demolished, the Village Board may, by resolution, authorize the Code Enforcement Officer to immediately cause the repair or demolition of such unsafe building. The expenses of such repair or demolition shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in § 120-11 hereof.
B.
If a structure is vacant and unfit for human habitation and occupancy, and is not in danger of structural collapse, a placard of condemnation shall be posted on the premises, and the structure shall be secured so as not to be an unattractive nuisance. A Code Enforcement Officer or police officer may authorize the securing of such structure. The expenses of such securing shall be a charge against the land on which it is located and shall be assessed, levied and collected as provided in § 120-11 hereof.
C.
No person shall occupy a placarded structure.
D.
It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure except for the purpose of securing the structure, making the required repairs, removing the hazardous condition or demolishing the structure. The Code Official must be notified prior to entry.
E.
The placard shall not be removed until the defect or defects on which the condemnation and placarding action were based have been eliminated.
F.
There shall be posted at each entrance to such structure a notice reading as follows:
"This Structure is Unsafe and its Occupancy Has Been Prohibited by the Fire Code Official. It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure except for the purpose of securing the structure, making the required repairs removing the hazardous condition or demolishing the structure."
G.
All occupants shall vacate a premises when any of the following exists:
(1)
Imminent danger of failure or collapse of a building or structure which endangers life;
(2)
A structure where the entire structure, or part of the structure, has fallen and life is endangered by the occupation of the structure;
(3)
Actual or potential danger to the building occupants or those in the proximity of any structure because of explosives, explosive fumes or vapors or the presence of toxic fumes, gases or materials; or
(4)
Existence of defective or dangerous equipment.
The surveyor appointed as provided herein shall be paid reasonable compensation as shall be fixed by the Village Board.
The transfer of title by the owner of premises upon which an unsafe building or structure is located shall be no defense to any proceedings under this chapter.
Any person upon whom an order as provided in this chapter has been served who fails, neglects or refuses to place such unsafe building or structure in a safe condition as designated in such order or who shall resist or obstruct the Code Enforcement Officer or any other Village employee is carrying out the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction, by guilty of a violation pursuant to the Penal Law of the State of New York, punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for not more than 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment. Each day in which such offense continues shall constitute a separate violation.