Oyster Bay, NY Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing official
- Commissioner, Dept. of Planning and Development
- Time to begin abatement after assent
- 72 hours (§ 96-9)
- Hearing petition deadline
- 7 days after notice served
- First-offense fine (dangerous building)
- Up to $500 (§ 96-24(C))
- Repeat offense fine (within 5 years)
- $1,000 to $2,500
- Mortgage-in-default registration fee
- $500 semiannual (§ 96-21(E))
Summary
Oyster Bay's Commissioner of Planning and Development can order a dangerous, vacant or abandoned building sealed, boarded, repaired or demolished under Town Code Chapter 96. Owners get 72 hours to start fixing a confirmed hazard once served, and continued noncompliance draws weekly fines plus a Supreme Court demolition order.
All dangerous buildings, as defined by § 96-2 of this chapter, are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be sealed, boarded up, vacated and/or repaired, secured, demolished and removed as hereinafter provided. ... Any person or persons who shall create a dangerous building or allow a building to become a dangerous building or allow a dangerous building to continue to remain in a dangerous condition, in violation of this chapter, shall be guilty of an offense punishable by a fine not exceeding $500, for conviction of a first offense; for conviction of a second offense, both of which were committed within a period of five years, punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 nor more than $1,500; and upon conviction for a third or subsequent offense, all of which were committed within a period of five years, punishable by a fine of not less than $1,500 nor more than $2,500.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4036544; v24 updated 2023-03-07; through 03-07-2023).
Full Breakdown
Chapter 96 declares any building meeting the code's fourteen "dangerous building" conditions, including 33 1/3% deterioration of a supporting member, inadequate fire egress, or a vacant and abandoned structure, to be a public nuisance under § 96-3. The Commissioner investigates on receipt of a complaint, files a report under § 96-5, and serves written notice under §§ 96-5 through 96-7 describing the section, block and lot and the specific unsafe conditions, by personal service, certified/overnight mail, or (if the owner cannot be found) publication once a week for two successive weeks in the Town's official newspaper.
A person served has seven days to accept or reject the order (six days if served by overnight mail); silence counts as rejection under § 96-8. If the owner assents, § 96-9 gives 72 hours to begin abatement. If contested, § 96-10 entitles the owner to a Town Board hearing within 14 days of filing a verified petition, after which the hearing officer issues written findings; assent after that still carries the same 72-hour clock. Unresolved cases go to a formal survey under §§ 96-11 and 96-12, and the Town Attorney can then apply to State Supreme Court in Nassau County under § 96-16 for an order declaring the building a public nuisance and directing repair, securing, vacating, or demolition.
Repair-versus-demolition decisions follow § 96-15: a building 50% or more damaged or decayed, or one the owner refuses to fix, must be demolished. In true emergencies, § 96-20 lets the Commissioner skip the notice process and immediately seal, board, or demolish. The Town recovers survey and abatement costs by special assessment against the parcel under §§ 96-13 and 96-19, plus attorneys' fees, costs and disbursements under § 96-19(B). 1 requires those properties be kept free of weeds, debris and graffiti.
Violations & Fines
Removing a posted notice or interfering with the Commissioner under § 96-18 is a violation punishable by a fine up to $500. Failing to comply with a vacate order is likewise up to $500 under § 96-24(B). Creating or allowing a dangerous building to persist carries escalating fines under § 96-24(C): up to $500 for a first offense, $1,000-$1,500 for a second within five years, and $1,500-$2,500 for a third or later offense within five years, with each week of continued violation a separate offense. Violating any other provision of Chapter 96 draws a $500-$1,000 fine per week under § 96-24(D), and violating a Commissioner's directive under § 96-25 can bring a fine up to $900 or up to 15 days imprisonment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who declares a building dangerous in Oyster Bay?
Can I contest a dangerous building order?
What happens if the owner ignores the order?
What are the fines for letting a building stay dangerous?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oyster Bay
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