Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 114 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 114-1

A. Property owners who fail to maintain their property create adverse conditions that affect the general health, safety and welfare of the public. Deficient property maintenance sometimes creates impacts to the health and safety of the public that require immediate attention while other instances of deficient property maintenance create harm to the general welfare that reduces the quality of life, adversely impacts property values and facilitates the creation of blighted neighborhoods. B. The Village Board hereby finds that the improper maintenance of the exterior of any buildings that are visible to the neighbors and/or traveling public creates conditions that adversely affect property values, the quality of life of the neighbors and neighborhood, and the general health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Village. Property owners who allow poisonous shrubs to grow and allow weeds, shrubs, lawns, grass, landscape plants and other vegetation to become overgrown, or who allow the exterior of any buildings located on their property to deteriorate into a state of disrepair or to become unsightly or dilapidated, or who permit the accumulation of garbage, rubbish, debris and refuse thereon, facilitate the proliferation of pests, insects and vermin. These conditions, in turn, result in a general deterioration of property values and foster blight in the surrounding neighborhoods and in the community in general. The Village Board further finds that property owners, tenants or persons in possession of real property who keep or maintain junked, inoperable or unregistered vehicles on their property contribute to blight by promoting unsightly, unsanitary and unsafe conditions. C. The Village Board hereby determines that in order to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of the residents of the Village, to prevent blight within the Village and to prohibit the proliferation thereof, it is necessary to establish standards for the exterior maintenance of property, yards and any buildings or structures thereon, and to provide standards for the general exterior maintenance of yards, buildings and structure, and to provide for the removal of any poisonous weeds or shrubs, overgrown vegetation, including lawns, grass, landscape shrubbery, and ornamental shrubs, garbage, debris, rubbish, and junked or inoperable vehicles on properties, so that all properties shall be maintained in accordance with the standards enunciated in this chapter. D. This chapter authorizes the Village, through its Code Enforcement Officials, to enter onto the property containing the offending condition, in accordance with the provisions of this chapter, and to remove the same where the property owners fails or neglects to cure the violation. By reason of the establishment of these regulations and restrictions as herein set forth in this chapter, the proliferation of blight may be prevented and the general public health, safety and welfare protected and fostered. E. It is with this intent in mind that the provisions of this chapter are established.