Int. No. 229

By Council Members Brannan and Holden

A Local Law to amend the administrative code of the city of New York, in relation to the maintenance of vacant buildings

Be it enacted by the Council as follows:

Section 1. Legislative findings and intent. The city council finds that inadequately secured vacant properties can be the cause of numerous problems affecting neighborhoods across the city of New York, such as fire and public safety hazards, urban blight and depressed local property values. Currently rules promulgated by the department of buildings allow the use of concrete block or plywood to seal and secure doors and windows in vacant buildings. Rules promulgated by the department of housing preservation and development allow for the use of concrete block, sheet metal or plywood to seal and secure buildings. Over time, doors and windows secured with concrete blocks, sheet metal or plywood can become vulnerable to the elements or torn off by vandals or criminals wishing to gain access to the building. Cities such as Boston and Chicago have addressed the issue of inadequately secured vacant properties by strengthening their ordinances to require the installation of internal metal security panels on windows and doors in buildings that have remained vacant for longer than a prescribed period of time. Amending the administrative code of the city of New York to require the installation of internal metal security panels on buildings that have remained vacant and insufficiently secured for more than six months will increase the likelihood that such buildings will be protected from unauthorized entry, which will serve to stabilize and protect neighborhoods.

§ 2. Section 28-216.1.2 of the administrative code of the city of New York, as amended by local law number 141 for the year 2013, is amended to read as follows:

§ 28-216.1.2 Vacant buildings. a. Any vacant building not continuously guarded or not sealed and kept secure against unauthorized entry shall for the first six months it is vacant have all openings sealed in a manner approved by the commissioner, and it shall be the duty of the owner thereof promptly to make any repairs that may be necessary for the purpose of keeping such building sealed and secure.

b. For any building that has been vacant for more than six months, the owner must implement and provide proof to the department that said building either (i) is secured as described in section 28-216.1.2.1 of this article or (ii) contains all of the security features set forth in section 28-216.1.2.2 of this article.

§ 28-216.1.2.1 Secured buildings. For purposes of this chapter the term “secured” refers to a building that has a permanent door or window, as applicable, in each appropriate building opening; has each such door or window maintained in a manner so as to prevent unauthorized entry; and has all of its door and window components including, but not limited to, frames, jambs, rails, stiles, muntins, mullions, panels, sashes, lights and panes, intact and unbroken.

§ 28-216.1.2.2 Steel security panels. Any building found not to be secured as set forth in section 28-216.1.2.1 of this article that has been vacant for six months or more must have every exterior opening larger than one square foot, including door openings, which are in the cellar, basement, first story, or on the course of a fire escape, less than six feet measured horizontally from an opening in an adjoining building or less than 10 feet from grade closed and secured with a commercial-quality 14-gauge, rust-proof steel security panel or door. Such panel or door shall have an exterior finish that allows for easy graffiti removal and shall be secured from the interior of the building to prevent unauthorized removal.

§ 28-216.1.2.3 Penalty. In addition to any other penalty provided by law, it shall be a violation of this article for a vacant building not to be secured in accordance with the provisions of this section. Where the owner has presented proof to the department of compliance with section 28-216.1.2.1 or section 28-216.1.2.2 but the commissioner determines, based on an inspection by the department or a report prepared by another city agency and provided to the department, that the owner is not in compliance, the commissioner shall send by certified mail a written notice of violation to the owner of record. Within 30 days of the mailing of such notice of violation, the owner shall be required to comply with the provisions of section 28-216.1.2.2 of this article.

§ 3. This local law takes effect 90 days after it becomes law, except that the commissioner of buildings and the commissioner of housing preservation and development shall take such actions as are necessary for its implementation, including the promulgation of rules, before such date.

WCJ/JJ

LS #287/Int. 0307-2014

LS #1185 01/04/2018 1:34PM