Albany County, NY Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)

Owners of vacant lots in Albany County must maintain their parcels under NYS Property Maintenance Code (19 NYCRR Part 1226) §302, adopted through Executive Law §378. City of Albany Code Chapter 255 (Property Maintenance) and local town codes (Colonie §114, Bethlehem §104, Guilderland §74) set specific standards: grass and weeds must not exceed 10 inches (some towns 8 inches); no accumulated debris, junk, tires, or illegally dumped materials; abandoned structures must be boarded with Code-compliant materials; no conditions harboring rodents, mosquitos, or other vectors under Public Health Law Article 13. Hudson River floodplain vacant lots (Coeymans, Watervliet, Cohoes) also face federal NFIP and NYSDEC wetland regulations under ECL Article 24. The City of Albany's vacant lot program (under Chapter 133 for vacant buildings and Chapter 255 for lots) authorizes mowing and cleanup at owner expense ($200-$750 per occurrence plus administrative fees). Unpaid abatement costs become liens on the property under GML §119-z and can be enforced through the County Tax Sale. The Albany County Land Bank may acquire persistently blighted properties for redevelopment.