Islip, NY Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Article II of Town Code Chapter 6A authorizes the Commissioner of the Department of Public Safety Enforcement to delegate placarding authority to a properly certified New York State Code Enforcement Official, who placards a residential structure as authorized by the New York State Property Maintenance Code or Fire Code (§ 6A-2A). Before or at placarding, the designee must notify the Suffolk County Department of Social Services to arrange resident relocation if needed, the local fire district, and the Suffolk County Police Department so the dangerous structure stays unoccupied, keeping a written record of the date, time and manner of each notification (§ 6A-2B, C).

The Office of the Town Attorney maintains a Code Compliance Coordination Officer who must be contacted immediately whenever an official believes conditions may lead to placarding (§ 6A-3). While a placard is in effect, the Chief Fire Marshal, Chief Town Investigator or Commissioner of Planning and Development, or a designee, must inspect the structure biweekly until every condition for removing the placard is met (§ 6A-4). Section 6A-5 bars anyone from occupying a placarded premises or operating placarded equipment, and bars entry except by a qualified technician making authorized repairs.

Violating § 6A-5 is an unclassified misdemeanor under § 6A-6, carrying a fine of not less than $500 and not more than $10,000, up to one year's imprisonment, probation, or a combination of these penalties.