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

Vacant lots and unoccupied properties in Ulster County are subject to NY Property Maintenance Code (PMC) §302.4 requiring grass and weeds to be maintained below 10 inches in height (more than 10 inches creates a violation), and §302.1 requiring premises to be free of rubbish, garbage, and overgrown vegetation. Standing water must be eliminated to prevent mosquito breeding (§302.4 and NY Public Health Law concerning West Nile Virus/EEE mitigation). Noxious weeds regulated under NY Agriculture and Markets Law §150. Several Ulster municipalities have adopted vacant property registration laws: Kingston requires registration of vacant residential and commercial buildings under Chapter 315 (Property Registration) with annual fees and maintenance requirements; Town of Ulster has similar registration. 'Zombie' properties (abandoned during foreclosure) are regulated under NY RPAPL §1308 which requires mortgage servicers to maintain vacant properties and permits $500/day penalties. Complaints go to the local code enforcement officer; abatement costs become a tax lien on the property.