There is no defensible space or brush clearance ordinance in New York County because the borough is fully built out urban area. Property owners must keep lots free of rubbish and overgrowth under the NYC Sanitation Code.
Manhattan does not have brush clearance or defensible-space ordinances similar to those in wildfire-prone counties. The closest equivalent is NYC Administrative Code Title 16 and Title 17 provisions that require property owners to keep their lots free of rubbish, debris, overgrown vegetation, and other nuisance conditions. The Department of Sanitation can issue summonses to owners of vacant or poorly maintained lots for failure to remove refuse or cut overgrown weeds and grass visible from public space. Because Manhattan has so little undeveloped land, brush clearance enforcement is rare and typically involves vacant lots scheduled for development. Street tree care on the public sidewalk is the responsibility of NYC Parks Department, not the adjacent owner, although owners may prune small branches with permission.
Contact your local code enforcement office for specific penalty information.
New York, NY
New York City enforces strict noise rules under Administrative Code Title 24, Chapter 2 (the NYC Noise Code, rewritten by Local Law 113 of 2005). Sound excee...
New York, NY
NYC bans commercial vehicles on residential streets 9 PM-5 AM and caps any commercial-vehicle parking at 3 hours per block (NYC Admin Code §19-170). 'Commerc...
New York, NY
In NYC residence districts, Zoning Resolution §23-44 limits fences in front yards to 4 feet above adjoining grade and permits walls up to 8 feet (not roofed ...
New York, NY
Section 161.05 of the New York City Health Code requires every dog in any public place, or in any open or unfenced area abutting a public place, to be effect...
New York, NY
New York City has no ordinance specific to residential lawn ornaments, statuary, or year-round decorations on private property. Landmark Preservation Commiss...
New York, NY
New York City has no ordinance specific to residential holiday inflatables. Inflatables in a sidewalk or right-of-way require a DOT permit under NYC Admin Co...
See how New York's brush clearance rules stack up against other locations.
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