Islip, NY Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration deadline
- 10 days after notice of pendency filed (§ 6A-13B)
- Annual fee
- $75 nonrefundable per property (§ 6A-13E)
- Vacant property duty
- Weekly inspection, secure & post signage (§ 6A-15)
- Uncured default
- Monthly mortgagee inspections if occupied (§ 6A-13C)
- Town remedy
- Town abates and liens property after 10 days (§ 6A-18)
Summary
Any mortgagee holding a defaulted mortgage on Islip real estate must register the property with the Town within 10 days of filing a notice of pendency, pay a $75 annual fee, and if the property is vacant, name a local property manager to inspect, secure and maintain it under Town Code § 6A-13.
§ 6A-13B. Within 10 days of the date any mortgagee files a notice of pendency, the mortgagee shall register the real property with the Town Registry and, at the time of registration, shall indicate whether the property is vacant, and if so shall designate in writing a property manager to inspect, maintain and secure the real property subject to the mortgage in foreclosure. § 6A-15B. A "secure manner" shall include, but not be limited to, the closure and locking of windows, doors, gates and other openings of such size that may allow a child to access the interior of the property and/or structure. In the event the property is vacant, windows and doors should be boarded to HUD standards, to wit: 5/8-inch plywood, painted gray and bolted from the interior. § 6A-21A. A fine of not less than $250 and not exceeding $1,000 or by imprisonment for a period not to exceed five days, or both, for conviction of a first offense.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: rev 4826765; v112 updated 2026-02-24; through 02-24-2026).
Full Breakdown
Article III of Chapter 6A, the 'Community Preservation and Anti-Blight Enforcement Local Law,' targets real property that is vacant and/or blighted while subject to a mortgage-in-default, finding such properties 'negatively affect the economic well-being of the Town' and contribute to neighborhood decline (§ 6A-10). m. Registration carries a $75 nonrefundable annual fee, renewable within 10 days of expiration. If the property remains occupied but in default, the mortgagee must inspect it monthly until the default is cured (§ 6A-13C). Once a defaulted property is vacant, § 6A-15 requires it be kept secure, windows, doors and gates closed and locked, and if vacant, boarded to HUD standard 5/8-inch plywood, painted gray and bolted from the interior, with weekly inspections and a posted sign giving the property manager's name and 24-hour phone number. Failing to register, maintain or secure the property under this article is a violation of the Town Code (§§ 6A-13J, 6A-14D, 6A-15D, 6A-16).
Violations & Fines
Failing to register a defaulted property, maintain it, or secure and post it as required is a Chapter 6A violation enforced under § 6A-21: a first offense draws a fine of $250 to $1,000 or up to five days in jail; a second conviction within five years brings $1,000 to $2,000 or up to 15 days; a third or later offense is prosecuted as an unclassified misdemeanor with a $2,000 to $5,000 fine and up to a year in jail. The Town may also abate an uncorrected violation itself and lien the property for the cost under § 6A-18.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a bank have to register a foreclosed Islip house?
How does the Town make sure a vacant foreclosure property stays secure?
What happens if the bank never fixes up the vacant property?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Islip
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