Bronx vacant lots must be fenced and maintained by the owner under NYC Admin Code §28-301.1. Department of Buildings (DOB) requires at least 8-foot fencing around vacant lots with gates secured. Overgrown lots are ticketed by DSNY for lot cleaning under §16-118.
DOB's Vacant Lot Cleaning Unit inspects Bronx lots receiving complaints via 311. Owners must cut weeds to under 18 inches, remove debris, and secure perimeter. If owner fails to comply, the city performs cleanup and bills the owner plus a lien against the property. The Bronx has a concentration of city-owned vacant lots under HPD and NYCEDC jurisdiction.
Failure to maintain: 250-1,000 dollar fines. Unpaid cleanup bills become tax liens. Repeat violations escalate at OATH.
See how Bronx County's vacant lot maintenance rules stack up against other locations.
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