Mount Vernon operates a Vacant Property Registry under Chapter 247 (or companion code section), layered with NY General Municipal Law §78-b. Vacant/abandoned properties must be registered, secured, and maintained; escalating fees apply.
New York General Municipal Law §78-b authorizes municipalities to require registration of vacant properties and to impose safeguards (boarding, liability insurance, local contact). Mount Vernon's vacant-property/anti-blight ordinance requires annual registration with escalating fees — often $250 year one, climbing to $1,000+ for multi-year vacancies — plus maintenance of structure, landscaping, and security. The city aggressively uses these tools against long-vacant buildings.
Per-day fines $250-$1,000; lien placed on property for unpaid fees/fines; emergency-repair assessments for hazardous structures.
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 property blight.
See how Mount Vernon's property blight rules stack up against other locations.
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