Mount Vernon is a fully built-out urban city with no wildland-urban interface, so there is no defensible-space brush clearance requirement. Property maintenance code still requires owners to keep vegetation cut and remove dead trees that pose a hazard.
Mount Vernon's property maintenance code requires all premises be free of weeds and overgrowth, with grass typically kept under about 10 inches. Dead or hazardous trees must be removed or pruned. Unlike California or wildfire-prone states, NY has no defensible-space law because the city contains no wildland fuel beds.
Notices of violation for overgrowth can trigger city abatement and liens for cleanup costs.
Mount Vernon, NY
Mount Vernon operates alternate-side parking for street cleaning and enforces residential permit parking in several districts. Non-residents cannot park over...
Mount Vernon, NY
Driveways must be paved, properly permitted curb cuts, and cannot block sidewalks. Parking on front lawns or unpaved areas is prohibited in residential zones.
Mount Vernon, NY
Recreational vehicles, boats, and trailers are generally prohibited from parking on public streets and in front-yard setbacks in residential zones. Storage i...
Mount Vernon, NY
Retaining walls over 4 ft measured from bottom of footing to top of wall require a building permit and sealed engineered drawings. Walls with surcharge (driv...
Mount Vernon, NY
A building permit from the Mount Vernon Building Department is required for most new fences and for replacements that change height, materials, or location. ...
Mount Vernon, NY
Chickens and livestock are prohibited in Mount Vernon residential zones. The city's dense urban character (~4 sq mi) excludes agricultural uses from zoning.
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Westchester County.
See how other cities in Westchester County handle brush clearance.
See how Mount Vernon's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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