Wappingers Falls, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 114 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 114-2

For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: BUILDING Any building or structure, or part thereof, whether used for human habitation or otherwise, and includes any outbuildings and appurtenances belonging thereto or usually enjoyed therewith. COMMERCIAL PREMISES A building, structure or land used for any purpose other than for single-family or multifamily purposes, including premises used for rental purposes, business purposes or industrial purposes. DEBRIS All materials resulting from the construction, excavation, renovation, equipping, remodeling, repair or demolition of structures, property or roads, or resulting from the preparation therefor, as well as materials consisting of vegetation resulting from land clearing and grubbing, utility line maintenance, and seasonal and storm-related cleanup, except when such materials are organized in piles or structures for purposes of composting. Such materials include, but are not limited to, masonry, such as bricks, concrete blocks, mortar and concrete, soil, rock, wood, wall coverings, floor coverings, plaster, drywall, plumbing fixtures, insulation, roofing materials, siding, pavement, glass, window frames, electrical wiring and components, plastics, carpeting, foam padding, linoleum, and metals, or any combination thereof, which are incidental to construction, excavation, renovation, equipping, remodeling, repair or demolition. ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL This chapter shall be enforced by the following Village of Wappingers Falls officials: the Code Enforcement Officer/Building Inspector, the Zoning Administrator, the Fire Chief, the Village Justices, the Village Police, the Dutchess County Sheriff's Office, any police agency having jurisdiction in the Village of Wappingers Falls, and such other persons as may be designated by the Village Board of the Village of Wappingers Falls by duly adopted resolution. GARBAGE All putrescible animal and vegetable waste resulting from growing, processing, marketing and preparation of food items, including containers in which such items are packaged, except when such wastes are organized in piles or structures for purposes of composting. JUNKED VEHICLE Any motor vehicle which is either unregistered, dismantled (in whole or in part), or in such a damaged condition or state of disrepair that such vehicle cannot be operated without extensive repair or for which the cost of such repair exceeds the value of the motor vehicle. Lack of a license plate, or an incorrect license plate affixed to the motor vehicle, shall be presumptive evidence that the vehicle is not registered. MULTIFAMILY PREMISES Any building which is used as a home or residence, other than a single-family residence, together with any garage or other accessory buildings and the lot upon which such building or buildings are constructed. NOXIOUS WEEDS Plants or other flora growth that may be hurtful, harmful or may physically affect individuals, such as poison ivy, sumac (trees, bushes or vines), deadly nightshade, Japanese Heliotrope and bindweed. "Noxious weeds" shall not include those plants normally cultivated in gardens. NUISANCE A. Any public or private condition that would constitute a nuisance according to the statutes, laws and regulations of the State of New York, its governmental agencies or the regulations and laws of the Village. B. Any physical condition existing in or on the exterior of any premises which is potentially dangerous, detrimental or hazardous to the life, health or safety of persons on, near or passing within the proximity of premises where said condition exists. C. Any waste material or any other matter attractive to vermin, likely to breed disease or which presents a fire hazard, creates offensive odors, or otherwise is prejudicial to good health or is so unsightly of appearance as to be offensive to surrounding properties. OCCUPANT Any person residing, living or sleeping in or on the premises or having actual possession, use or occupancy of a dwelling premises or any person or entity in possession of or using the premises or part thereof, whether or not the owner thereof and regardless of the duration of time of such possession, use or occupancy. OWNER Any person, persons or entity who shall have legal or equitable title in any form whatsoever to any premises or part thereof, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof, or who shall have charge, care or control of any lot, premises, building, structure or part thereof as agent of the owner or as a fiduciary, trustee, receiver, guardian, lessee or mortgagee in possession, regardless of how such possession was obtained. Any person, group of persons or entity who is a lessee, sublessee or assignee of a lessee of any part or all of any building structure or land shall be deemed to be a co-owner with the lessee for the purposes of this chapter and shall have responsibility over the portion of the premises so sublet, leased or assigned. Where the owner of the property cannot be determined, the person whose name is listed as the owner on the most current tax roll of the Village is deemed to be the property owner. PERSON Any individual, natural person, association, firm, corporation, partnership, limited liability company or any other business organization of two or more persons, or any and all combinations of individuals acting in concert. PREMISES A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the buildings or structures thereon. RUBBISH All discarded or worthless nonputrescible solid wastes consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, including, but not limited to, paper and paper products, rags, wrappings, cardboard, tin cans, wood, glass, metals, plastics, tires, bedding, cloth, crockery, furniture, appliances and similar items. SINGLE-FAMILY RESIDENCE A building which is occupied exclusively as the home or residence of a single family, together with any garage or other accessory building and the lot upon which such building or buildings are constructed. SOLID WASTE Materials or substances discharged, discarded or rejected as being spent, useless, worthless or in excess by the owner at the time of such discard or rejection, except sewage and other highly diluted water-carried materials or substances and those in gaseous form. Such waste shall include, but is not limited to, garbage, sludge, rubbish, ashes, incinerator residue, street cleanings, dead animals, refuse, abandoned vehicles, agricultural waste, industrial waste, commercial waste and construction and demolition debris. STRUCTURE An assembly of materials forming a construction, including, but not limited to, buildings, stadiums, gospel and circus tents, reviewing stands, platforms, stagings, observation towers, radio towers, water tanks, trestles, open sheds, bins, shelters, fences and display racks and signs. TENANT Any person, other than the owner, who uses or occupies a property or building and who occupies the same pursuant to a written or oral lease agreement, or otherwise with the consent and permission of the owner thereof. TRANSLUCENT The property of admitting the passage of light but diffusing it so that objects beyond it cannot be clearly distinguished. WINDOW An opening in the wall or roof of a building for the admission of light, which opening may be closed to the elements by casements or sashes containing glass or other transparent material. WINDOW DISPLAY AREA That area of a building in proximity to the inner surface of a window which is designed or used for the viewing of the interior and the display of items representative of any goods or services pertaining to the business therein.