North Hempstead, NY Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 2A defines an Unsafe Building or Structure broadly: it covers an Abandoned Building or Structure, anything structurally unsound or unsanitary, a fire hazard, a building left vacant and unsecured more than 72 hours, one without functioning water, electric or gas for over 30 days, or one boarded up for emergency reasons more than eight weeks. Section 2A-4 directs the Building Official to identify such buildings, maintain a registry, and, where the official has probable cause based on an inspection, complaint or another agency's report that a building qualifies and has not been registered, serve written notice ordering the Owner of Record to register within a period the Building Official sets, capped at 10 days.

Once registered, the owner must post an 18-by-24-inch legible sign at the front of the building listing the Owner of Record's current name, address and phone number (§ 2A-4D), and, within five days of registration, submit a Compliance Plan to the Commissioner of the Building Department (§ 2A-5), who can reject it and give the owner 10 days to revise. Approved plans give the owner 30 business days to file for any required Town permits and 90 days after permits issue to finish the work.

If the Building Official's investigation under § 2A-6 confirms an unsafe condition, § 2A-7 requires a written notice ordering repair or demolition to start within 10 days and finish within 30, warning that the certificate of occupancy will be revoked after 15 days of noncompliance unless the owner appeals to the Town Board within 10 days. Under § 2A-9, if the owner still does not comply, the Town Board can direct demolition, or the Building Official can authorize the Town to secure or demolish the structure itself and recover the costs from the owner under § 2A-11.