Binghamton, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 265 § 265-13

A. Interior surfaces. (1) All interior walls, floors, ceilings and other interior surfaces, including but not limited to trims and sills, in all rental units and public areas shall be free from any defects such as serious leaning, buckling, sagging, cracks or holes that cause the surfaces to be unsanitary, unsafe, or a threat to the normal use and occupation of these areas. (2) All interior surfaces shall be painted or covered with acceptable covering whenever necessary to keep the surfaces sanitary and free from any and all defects. B. Every foundation, floor, wall and ceiling shall be weathertight and rodentproof; shall be capable of affording privacy; and shall be kept in good repair. Ceilings, walls, floors and all public areas shall be free from any serious defects such as severe bulging or leaning, large holes, loose surface material, severe or noticeable movement under normal stress, and missing parts or other serious damage. C. All exterior wall structures, doors, basement hatchways, and windows shall be maintained to prevent excessive heat loss during the winter months by the installation of insulation, weather stripping, or other devices reasonably calculated to prevent excessive loss. Where excessive heat loss is preventable by the use of other methods than permanent storm windows or factory-produced energy efficient windows, the property owner shall initiate a request to the Housing Board of Appeals. It shall be the responsibility of the property owner to demonstrate that the proposed solution shall be compliant with state fire and building codes and demonstrate sufficient insulating value without the loss of minimum ventilation and provide access to the exterior in cases of emergency. If the tenant pays for the heat, the storm windows shall be provided from October 1 to May 1. D. The roof structure shall be firm, weathertight and watertight. E. Every structure or dwelling which has a controlled method of disposal of water from roofs such as gutters and downspouts shall be maintained in good repair. F. Every inside and outside stair, porch and appurtenance shall be constructed and maintained to be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may place on it. Guardrails, at least 33 inches in height with openings between balusters or balustrades no greater than six inches, shall be provided on all open postings of stairs, balconies, landings and stairwells where there are four or more steps or where more than 33 inches above surrounding ground or floor level. Stairs less than 44 inches in width shall be provided with a handrail on at least one side, and if 44 inches or more in width, on both sides; said handrails shall be started at the first tread, both top and bottom, and shall have no obstruction tending to break a handhold. G. All exterior surfaces, including chimneys and accessory buildings, shall be repaired, painted, coated, treated, sealed, pointed, sandblasted, or chemically cleaned or sealed when the surfaces require the above-stated maintenance to prevent or retard deterioration or weathering, to avoid health or safety hazards, or to promote an attractive appearance and prevent a substantial depreciation to the integrity of the neighborhood. H. Residential, commercial and industrial buildings and properties, whether vacant or occupied, and accessory structures, shall be maintained in conformity with the provisions of this chapter to promote an attractive appearance, prevent a substantial depreciation to the integrity of the neighborhood, or prevent health or safety hazards. (1) In order to satisfy the requirements of this section, a person must comply with the following: (a) Fences and other minor construction shall be maintained in a safe, substantial and attractive condition. (b) Steps, walks, driveways, parking spaces and similar paved areas shall be maintained free of holes or other hazards and be maintained to afford safe passage under normal use. (c) Yards, courts, vacant lots and grass medians shall be kept trimmed and mowed, with the height of grass and weeds being no more than eight inches, and clean and free of physical hazards, rodent harborage and infestation. They shall be maintained in a manner that will prevent dust and other particles from being blown about the neighborhood, such as by the planting of grass. (d) Open wells, cesspools or cisterns shall be securely closed or barricaded from access to the public. (e) Heavy undergrowth and accumulations of plant growth which are noxious or detrimental to health shall be eliminated. Any trees or portions located on private property and constituting a hazard to persons or property shall be trimmed or removed. (f) A junk vehicle may not be parked stored or left in the open, whether behind a fence or not, unless it is necessary for the operation of a licensed auto repair business, lawfully situated on the property where the vehicle is stored, as permitted by applicable zoning regulations and state and/or local law, or lawfully situated on the property pursuant to a special permit issued hereunder for the purpose of accommodating valid police agency removal orders issued by the City of Binghamton Police Department. But in no case shall the number of unregistered and/or unlicensed vehicles permitted in the open at a licensed auto repair business exceed a number equal to the number of repair bays located on that property. Any other junk vehicle or vehicles must be relocated to a completely enclosed garage or be removed from the property. [1] Permits. [a] A person or company may apply from the City Clerk for a special permit allowing that person or company to store additional vehicles on property within the City of Binghamton if such storage is at the request or order of local law enforcement or municipal request or if necessary as per any New York State insurance laws. [b] The City Clerk is hereby authorized to adopt reasonable rules pertinent to the granting of said permit and/or revocation of a permit granted thereunder, and is authorized to issue the permit and revoke permits. [c] The fee for this permit shall be as set from time to time by the City Council. [2] Penalties for offenses. [a] First offense: warning ticket. [b] Second offense within one year of first offense: fine of $50 per vehicle. [c] Third offense within one year of second offense: fine of $75 per vehicle. [d] Fourth offense within one year of third offense: fine of $100 per vehicle. [e] Fifth offense within one year of fourth offense: Judge's discretion. (g) No unsightly furniture shall be placed or stored on an outside porch, yard and/or lawn of a property for any longer than is necessary to allow for its collection by a refuse handler. Furniture is unsightly when it is shredded, worn, discarded, torn, has stuffing visibly protruding from beneath the exterior, or is attracting or housing vermin. (2) Subsection H(1)(a) through (g) of this section are intended to be for illustrative purposes and are not intended to be an exhaustive list. I. The public sidewalks abutting upon private property shall be maintained and repaired by the owner of the property in accordance with the following provisions: (1) The owner shall cause his or her sidewalk to be kept free of obstructions and in good repair and conditions and safe for public use. (2) In the event that sidewalks become out of grade (a heave, movement or settlement greater than one inch), the owner shall bring the same into true grade. (3) Where the owner shall fail or neglect to repair any sidewalk or bring the same to true grade within 45 days as determined by the Code Enforcement Bureau, the sidewalk shall be repaired or brought to grade by the Department of Public Works, and a bill for the expenses incurred shall be presented to the owner and collected in accordance with §§ 91 and 92 of the Second Class Cities Law of the State of New York. The bill presented to the owner shall include all City expenses, material and contractor costs. (4) The accumulation of snow and ice on sidewalks must be removed within 24 hours after said accumulation ceases. In the event of noncompliance, the Code Enforcement Director may direct the Department of Public Works to clean said sidewalks, and a bill shall be presented to the owner as per Subsection I(3) . (5) In addition, the owners of commercial properties in areas defined as business or commercial districts under Chapter 410 , Zoning, of the Code of the City of Binghamton, shall be required to maintain the sidewalk(s) abutting their property free of litter, trash and garbage and shall provide trash receptacles into which their patrons may dispose of all litter, trash and/or garbage generated by the provision of services or goods to their patrons. (a) For the purposes of this subsection, the terms “garbage” and “litter” shall be defined as follows: GARBAGE Any accumulation of waste consisting of animal, vegetable, fruit or similar organic matter that attends the preparation, use, dealing in, storage of, or sale of meat, fish, fowl, fruit, breads, vegetables or other food products; metal containers, paper cartons or other containers that have contained food materials and beverages; discarded paper, rubber, cloth, leather, sweepings, as well as inorganic waste such as glass, porcelain or other similar waste materials that ordinarily accumulate around a home, business or industry. LITTER Any quantity of uncontainerized paper, metal, plastic, glass or miscellaneous solid waste, including, but not limited to, cigarette butts; paper products; plastic cups, containers, wrappers or other plastic debris; glass and bodily fluids or waste, human or otherwise. (b) For the purpose of this subsection, the term “properly dispose” shall not include disposal of the trash by placing it in the public trash receptacles provided by the City of Binghamton. (c) Because all property owners are required to keep the their sidewalk free of obstructions, no receptacle required by this subsection shall be placed on the public sidewalk, except upon the issuance of a street work permit. Instead, all such receptacles shall be maintained inside the business establishment. J. Maintenance of property. (1) Whenever an owner of a property fails to comply with a notice by the Code Enforcement Bureau to cut and remove grass, heavy undergrowth or accumulations of plant growth on the property which constitute physical hazards, rodent harborages or places of infestation, or garbage or trash in violation of Subsection H(1)(c) or (3), the Director of Code Enforcement may direct that the grass, heavy undergrowth or accumulations of plant growth be cut and removed or such trash and garbage be removed from the property by the Department of Public Works. (2) A bill for the expenses incurred, in addition to an administrative fee as set from time to time by the City Council, shall be presented to the owner of the property, personally or by mailing it to him or her at his or her last known address. If the owner fails to pay within 10 days, the Director of Code Enforcement shall certify to the City Treasurer the expenses incurred and the administrative fee, and the total amount of the expenses plus the administrative fee shall become a lien. The lien upon the property shall be included in the next tax bill rendered to the owner, unless paid before, and shall be collected in the same manner as other taxes against the property. The bill presented to the owner shall include all City expenses, material and contractor costs. (3) In addition to the enforcement set forth in Subsection J(1) and (2) above, the violator may be cited by means of an appearance ticket returnable in City Court, where the imposition of further penalties pursuant to § 265-5D above may be sought. K. Surface and subsurface water shall be directed so as not to impact adjacent buildings and properties or create ponding situations. Runoff shall not be drained over sidewalk areas.