Syracuse, NY Property Maintenance: Vacant Lot Maintenance (2026)
Key Facts
- General duty
- Rev. Gen. Ord. § 27-72(e)
- Vacant-lot duty
- Rev. Gen. Ord. § 27-116(b)(2)
- Must be free of
- Trash, debris, high grass, weeds
- Notice-to-comply window
- 5 days before city clears lot
- Repeat violation
- City can clear again without notice
- Civil penalty
- $100 per day uncorrected
Summary
Syracuse requires every yard, court and vacant lot to be kept free of hazards, illegally stored trash, debris and garbage that could spark a fire or breed vermin, and owners of vacant lots specifically must keep them clear of trash, debris, high grass and overgrown weeds under the Property Conservation Code's vacant-property provisions.
(e)Yards, courts and vacant lots shall be kept free of physical hazards, accumulations of loose, illegally stored or illegally containerized trash and debris, garbage and other material which would cause a fire hazard or act for a breeding place for vermin or insects. They shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent dust or other materials from being blown about the neighborhood.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 41).
Full Breakdown
Section 27-72(e), within the 'Open areas' maintenance article of Chapter 27, requires that yards, courts and vacant lots be kept free of physical hazards and accumulations of loose, illegally stored or illegally containerized trash and debris, garbage and other material that would cause a fire hazard or a breeding place for vermin or insects, and that the lot be maintained so as to prevent dust or other materials from blowing about the neighborhood. Section 27-116, the chapter's vacant-property article, layers on a lot-specific duty: every owner or responsible person for a vacant lot must maintain it in a safe and sanitary condition and free of trash, debris, high grass and overgrown weeds.
If the Division of Code Enforcement's director finds a vacant lot in violation, Section 27-116(c) lets the director notify the owner by posted and mailed notice, and if the owner does not comply within five days, city employees or contractors may clear the lot themselves, with the cost charged back to the owner as a personal obligation. A second violation after the owner has already disregarded one order lets the director clear the lot again, at the owner's expense, without further notice.
Violations & Fines
Failing to keep a vacant lot clear exposes the owner to the Section 27-120 penalty scheme: a criminal fine of $10 to $150 or up to 15 days in jail for a knowing violation, plus a civil penalty of $100 per day until the debris is removed. On top of those penalties, Section 27-116(c)(2) lets the city clear the lot itself and bill the owner directly for the cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What must a Syracuse vacant lot owner do to avoid a violation?
What happens if I don't clean up my vacant lot after a notice?
Can the city clear my lot again without warning me first?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Syracuse
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