Town of Ithaca, NY Chapter 175 Lock Boxes

[HISTORY: Adopted by the Town Board of the Town of Ithaca 6-12-1995 by L.L. No. 7-1995. Amendments noted where applicable.]

GENERAL REFERENCES

Noise — See Ch. 184.

§ 175-1 Findings.

A. The Town Board of the Town of Ithaca finds the use of alarm systems connected directly or indirectly to an agency providing fire and other emergency responses is increasing within the Town of Ithaca; and

B. On occasion such alarms have been erroneously activated when the premises are vacant or under other circumstances where the Fire Department has been called to the premises or other emergency personnel have responded and have been unable to obtain access to the premises to turn off the alarm; and[1]

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

C. There have been other circumstances where alarms are connected to loud noise-making devices such as bells or klaxons and it has not been possible to turn off such noise-making alarms when they have been triggered by an erroneous signal; and

D. There are circumstances where an emergency such as a fire or burglary is in progress and a non-forced entry to the premises would be desirable to react to the emergency; and

E. It would be desirable to provide for a method of access by emergency personnel under any of the foregoing circumstances in a controlled manner.

§ 175-2 Definitions.

As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:

ALARM SYSTEM

Any system by which notification of a possible fire is made, directly or indirectly, to the Fire Department, or other emergency response entity or dispatcher or which activates an audible signal that can be heard off of the property on which the premises are located or a visual signal which can be seen off of the property on which the premises are located.

[1]

LOCK BOX

A device as prescribed by the Town of Ithaca or the City of Ithaca Fire Department in coordination with the Town of Ithaca Building and Zoning Enforcement Officer in which shall be placed a key to the premises on which the box is located, access to which box shall be limited and regulated so that a minimum number of persons shall have access to the key that will open the box and a record is maintained at all times as to the person or persons who may obtain access to the box.

[1] Editor's Note: Amended at time of adoption of Code (see Ch. 1, General Provisions, Art. I).

§ 175-3 Applicability.

This chapter shall apply to all areas of the Town of Ithaca outside the Village of Cayuga Heights.

§ 175-4 Attachment of lock box.

Lock boxes shall be required for all new and existing buildings, other than one- or two-family dwellings, that have an alarm system.

§ 175-5 Location and attachment of lock boxes.

Lock boxes shall be affixed to the structures in the manner detailed by the manufacturer and in a location established by either the City of Ithaca Fire Department or the Town of Ithaca Building Code and Zoning Enforcement Officer.

§ 175-6 Retrofit requirement.

Any building currently in existence to which this chapter shall apply shall have a period ending July 1, 1996, within which to comply with the terms of this chapter.

§ 175-7 Penalties for offenses.

A violation of this chapter is hereby declared to be a Class B misdemeanor punishable in accordance with the provisions of the Penal Law relating to the commission of misdemeanors. In addition the Town Board of the Town may also maintain an action or proceeding in the name of the Town in a court of competent jurisdiction to compel compliance with or to restrain by injunction the violation of this chapter, notwithstanding that this chapter provides a penalty or other punishment for such violation.