Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 420 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 420-7
Vacant building or storefront fees and insurance
Operative Text
A. Fees. (1) Vacant building and vacant storefront registration fees shall be established by the Board of Trustees and published in the village's annual fee schedule. Any fees not timely paid shall be subject to penalties under § 420-11 . (2) Any arrearages for the registration fee shall be paid in full before the issuance of a building permit, certificate of occupancy or certificate of compliance. This provision will not apply to demolition permits. (3) Any arrearages shall be paid by the property owner prior to transfer of ownership of a vacant building or storefront. If outstanding registration fees are not paid prior to transfer of ownership of the vacant building or vacant storefront, the Building Department shall forward an invoice to the current property owner by certified mail return receipt requested requesting payment for the outstanding fees no later than 20 days after the invoice is sent out. If payment of the invoice is not timely made the amount will be certified to the Village Treasurer and be a lien upon the property and shall be added to and become a part of the taxes to be next assessed and levied on such property, to be collected and enforced in the same manner as taxes. (4) A new property owner shall pay the annual registration fee no later than 60 days after the transfer of ownership is completed. Subsequent annual registration fees shall be due on the anniversary date of the filing of the registration form. (5) All fees collected via this local law shall be deposited into a fund to be utilized for historic preservation, facade restoration and downtown revitalization for the C-1, C-2, RF and SRF districts. B. Insurance. The property owner shall maintain commercial general liability insurance with minimum policy limits of $1,000,000 per person and $2,000,000 aggregate for vacant buildings and vacant storefronts. A certificate of insurance shall be submitted with the vacant building or vacant storefront registration and annual renewal. The village shall be named as a certificate holder and shall be provided with a minimum of 20 days' prior written notice of any cancellation, material modification or non-renewal of the insurance. C. Escrow. The property owner of every registered vacant building or storefront shall submit to the Building Department an escrow not to exceed $15,000 as determined by the Building Inspector. The escrow may be used to reimburse the village for expenses incurred to secure and maintain the vacant building or storefront upon the property owner's failure to do so pursuant to the approved vacant building or storefront plan.
Sleepy Hollow, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 420 § 420-7 establishes a framework of financial obligations for owners of vacant buildings and storefronts in the village. Registration fees are set by the Board of Trustees and must be kept current; unpaid amounts can block permits, become liens on the property, and ultimately be collected like property taxes. Owners must also carry commercial general liability insurance at specified minimums and deposit an escrow of up to $15,000 with the Building Department to cover any village costs for securing or maintaining the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to ch. 420 § 420-7 generally keep their vacant-building or storefront registration fees current, resolve any arrearages before applying for permits or transferring title, and ensure the required commercial general liability policy—at least $1,000,000 per person and $2,000,000 aggregate—names the village as a certificate holder with advance cancellation notice. A new owner of a vacant property typically files and pays the annual registration fee within 60 days of taking title, with renewals due on the anniversary of the original registration filing. Compliant operators also maintain an escrow account with the Building Department, up to $15,000 as determined by the Building Inspector, to cover any village expenses for securing or maintaining the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
While § 420-7 of Sleepy Hollow's Code of Ordinances ch. 420 primarily governs property owners rather than residential tenants, tenants in or near affected vacant buildings or storefronts may have an interest in whether the owner is meeting registration, insurance, and escrow obligations. If a property appears to be out of compliance—for example, lacking required insurance or with unpaid fees—concerns can generally be raised with the village's Building Department, which administers the program. Tenant-rights organizations or a housing attorney familiar with New York municipal law can help clarify how these obligations may intersect with any tenancy rights in a specific building.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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