Valatie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 254 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 254-2
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: BUSINESS UNIT A building or combination of buildings and the lot on which the same is located, used wholly or in part for commercial purposes, including but not limited to offices, places of public assembly, shopping centers, supermarkets, retail stores, warehouses, manufacturing or fabrication plants, gasoline stations and other business uses. COURT An open and unoccupied space on a lot and enclosed on at least three sides by the walls of a building. GARBAGE Putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food. INFESTATION The presence of insects, rodents, vermin or other pests. JUNKED VEHICLES Any vehicle, including a trailer, which is without a currently valid license plate or plates and is in either a rusted, wrecked, discarded, dismantled, partly dismantled, inoperative or an abandoned condition. LITTER Garbage, refuse and rubbish, as herein defined, and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare. LOT A plot, tract, premises or parcel of land, with or without buildings or structures located thereon. REFUSE All putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, junked vehicles and solid market and industrial wastes. RUBBISH Nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as paper, wrappings, cigarettes, cardboard, tin cans, yard clippings, leaves, wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar materials. UNOCCUPIED HAZARD Any building or part thereof which remains unoccupied for a period of more than six months, with either doors, windows or other openings broken, removed or boarded or sealed up, or any building under construction upon which little or no construction work has been performed for a period of more than six months. YARD An open space on the same lot which contains a building and is located between the building line and the lot line which the particular building line faces.
Section 254-2 of Valatie, N.Y., Code of Ordinances Chapter 254 establishes the official definitions that govern how terms are interpreted throughout the chapter's property and sanitation rules. Key concepts such as "litter," "refuse," "garbage," and "rubbish" are given distinct, specific meanings, as are terms like "infestation," "junked vehicles," and "unoccupied hazard." These definitions set the shared vocabulary that determines when a violation may or may not apply under the chapter's substantive provisions.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Valatie should familiarize themselves with the defined terms in § 254-2, since compliance obligations elsewhere in Chapter 254 turn on these precise meanings. For example, the definition of "unoccupied hazard" specifically covers buildings left vacant for more than six months with broken, removed, or boarded openings, or stalled construction sites — conditions that a compliant operator generally monitors and addresses proactively. Understanding distinctions between "garbage," "rubbish," and "refuse" as defined in § 254-2 helps operators correctly identify what materials must be managed under the chapter's substantive rules.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Valatie benefit from understanding the definitions in § 254-2, because these terms determine the scope of protections and obligations throughout Chapter 254. For instance, the definition of "infestation" — covering insects, rodents, vermin, or other pests — and "unoccupied hazard" may be relevant when evaluating whether a property condition rises to a violation under the chapter. Tenants who believe a condition on their property implicates these defined terms may consider contacting the Village of Valatie's code enforcement office or a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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