[HISTORY: Adopted by the Board of Trustees of the Village
of Amityville 6-13-2016 by L.L.
No. 7-2016. Amendments noted where applicable.]
The ravages of Superstorm Sandy, coupled with certain economic
impacts and ever-changing lifestyles place new responsibilities upon
Village government to assure safe and well-maintained properties.
The maintenance of a vacant building register will aid in assuring
the health, safety and enforcement of property maintenance by providing
better access to and communication with property owners and those
having an interest in particular properties to assure compliance.
For purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases
shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them as follows:
A building(s) or structure(s) with a sheet(s) of plywood,
wood or similar material(s) in front or in place of one or more exterior
doors, other than a storm door, or of one or more windows.
Any building(s) or structure(s) wherein one or more persons
actually conducts a business or resides in all or any part of the
building as the business occupant, or as the legal or equitable owner(s)/occupant(s)
or tenant(s) on a permanent, nontransient basis, or any combination
of the same. For purposes of this chapter, evidence offered to prove
that a building is so occupied may include, but shall not be limited
to, the regular receipt of delivery of regular mail through the United
States Postal Service, proof of continual telephone, electric, gas,
heating, water and sewer services, a valid Village business license,
if applicable, or the most recent federal or state income tax statements
indicating that the subject property is the official business or residence
address of the person or business claiming occupancy, or proof of
pre-rental inspection.
Any person, partnership, limited-liability company, corporation
or other entity who, alone or jointly with others, shall have legal
title to any premises, with or without accompanying actual possession
thereof, or who shall have charge, care or control of any dwelling
unit as a cooperative shareholder or as executor, administrator, trustee,
receiver or guardian of the estate or as a mortgagee in possession,
title or control, including but not limited to a bank or lending institution,
regardless of how such possession, title or control was obtained.
A building(s) or structure(s) where no person or persons
actually currently conduct a business, or reside or live in any part
of the building or structure as the legal or equitable owner(s) or
tenant-occupant(s), or owner-occupant(s), or tenant(s) on a permanent,
nontransient basis.
A.
Vacant building
registration and fees.
(1)
Any owner of any building which has been vacant or not occupied for more than 120 consecutive days shall file with the Village Clerk a vacant building registration. Said registration shall be in a form prescribed by the Village Clerk which shall include the street address and parcel number of each such vacant building, the names and addresses of all owners or interest holders, in accordance with Subsection A(1)(a) through (g) below, and any other information deemed necessary by the Village Clerk, and shall be notarized. In no instance shall the registration of a vacant building and the payment of registration fees be construed to exonerate the owner, agent or responsible party from responsibility for compliance with any other building code, zoning code or governmental regulations. The registration fee(s), as required herein, shall be due upon registration and then billed by the Village Clerk for subsequent years and be paid by January 1 of each year. For purposes of this section, the following shall be provided:
(a)
If
the owner is a corporation, the names and residence addresses of all
officers and directors of the corporation, and accompanied by a copy
of the most recent annual franchise tax report filed with the Secretary
of State.
(b)
If
the owner is a limited-liability company, the names and residence
addresses of the manager, managing member or those holding an interest
of 10% or greater.
(c)
If
the owner is an estate, the name and residence address of the executor
or administrator.
(d)
If
the owner is a trust, the name and residence address of all trustees
and grantors.
(e)
If
the owner is a partnership, the names and residence addresses of all
partners with an interest of 10% or greater.
(f)
If
the owner is any other form of unincorporated association, the names
and residence addresses of all principals with an interest of 10%
or greater.
(g)
If
the owner is an individual person or persons, the name and residence
address of such individuals.
(2)
(3)
Exceptions.
This section shall not apply to owners who have a second home or temporarily
reside elsewhere, who demonstrate by sworn affidavits and other documentation
that the premises is being regularly cared for and monitored by a
family member(s) or an entity engaged to provide such service.
B.
Fee.
(1)
The
owner(s) of the vacant or nonoccupied property(ies) shall be responsible
to register and pay an annual nonrefundable registration fee of $250.
Thereafter, said fee shall be billed by the Village Clerk annually
on November 1.
(2)
One
vacant building registration may be filed to include all vacant buildings
situated upon a single property of an owner so registering. The fee
of $250 shall apply to the property upon which the buildings are situated.
A separate fee need not be paid for each building upon a single tax
lot.
C.
Appeal rights.
The owner shall have the right to appeal the imposition of the registration
fees to the Building Inspector, upon filing an application in writing
to the Village Clerk no later than 30 calendar days from the date
of the billing statement. On appeal, the owner shall bear the burden
of providing proof that the building is occupied.
D.
One-time
waiver of registration fee. A one-time waiver of the registration
fee for up to 90 days may be granted by the Village Clerk upon application
by the owner and upon review and advice of the Village Attorney within
30 calendar days from the date of the bill for the registration fee,
or upon appeal to the Building Inspector if the owner:
(1)
Demonstrates
with satisfactory proof that she/he is the process of demolition,
rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the vacant building,
and demonstrates the anticipated length of time for such demolition,
rehabilitation, or other substantial repair; and
(2)
Is current
on all registration fees and all other financial obligations and/or
debts owed to the Village which are associated with the vacant property.
E.
Delinquent
registration fees as a lien. After the owner is given notice by first
class mail of the amount of the registration fee due, except for those
owners that have properly perfected an appeal as provided above, and
the owner fails to pay the amount due within 30 days, said amount
shall constitute a debt due and owing to the Village.
F.
Duty to
amend registration statement. If the status of the registration information
changes during the course of any calendar year, it is the responsibility
of the owner, responsible party or agent for the same to contact the
Village Clerk within 30 days of such occurrence and advise the Village
Clerk, in writing, of those changes.
The Village Clerk shall maintain the vacant building registrations
in the normal course of business and shall notify the local police,
fire and ambulance services of all locations on the registry.
Any owner or agent of an owner acting on behalf of the owner
who fails to register a vacant building or to pay any fees required
to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, within 30 days
after they become due, shall constitute a violation punishable upon
conviction thereof by a fine in the amount of not less than $1,000
nor more than $5,000 for each failure to register, or repeated failure
after notice, or for each failure to pay a required vacant building
registration fee. A claim that a bill for registration fees has not
been received shall not be a defense for failure to comply.
