1. Who is required to have their property tested for Lead?
2. Who is required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy?
3. Where can I get a copy of the Tenant's Rights?
4. Are you allowed to have an unlicensed vehicle on your property?
5. Who is my Neighborhood Group Association?
6. What are the refuse requirements?
7. What is the Noise Ordinance?
8. What happens after reporting high grass and weeds and scattered debris?
9. Who must obtain a Business Permit?
10. My apartment has no heat, whom can I call?
11. How do I have graffiti removed from my building?
12. What do I do when there has been illegal dumping on my property?
13. What are the City's Snow Code regulations?
14. I may have asbestos in my basement, who do I call?
15. I have rats on my property, who can I call?
16. What times are the NSC offices open?
    

1.  Who is required to have their property tested for Lead?   

• Effective July 1, 2006, all rental units built before 1978.
• Applicable to inspections required by law, such as Certificate of Occupancies, Complaints, Quality Housing Inspections, and referrals.
• §90-55 City Ordinance (Available on City Web site)

2.  Who is required to obtain a Certificate of Occupancy?   

• 1 and 2 family rental units - Renewable every 6 years
• Multiple Dwellings (3 or more units)
  • Includes mixed occupancies (such as a store and 1 family rental unit)
  • Renewable every 3 years
• All rental properties that have been entirely vacant for more than 2 months.
• §90-16 City Ordinance

3.  Where can I get a copy of the Tenant's Rights?   

• Note: This is considered a civil matter and the NSC office is not a legal consultant
• A copy of the pamphlet can be found at any NSC office.
• A copy can be obtained from the Rochester Housing Authority on West Avenue
• You may contact the Monroe County Legal Aid Society
• You may contact an Attorney
• NYS Attorney General - Andrew M. Cuomo's Office - 144 Exchange Blvd

4.  Are you allowed to have an unlicensed vehicle on your property?   

• No unlicensed or unregistered vehicles are allowed on any residential or unauthorized commercial property within the city limits
• Options to abate the violation include:
  • Storing in an enclosed garage
  • Registering the vehicle
  • Obtain a 6 month storage permit from the City
  • Remove the vehicle
• §NYS 120-163D; (Available on City Web site)

5.  Who is my Neighborhood Group Association?   

• Contact your local NSC office for a local listing
• Umbrella Neighborhood groups should be contacted for specific block clubs
• Some grants are available through your local Neighborhood Group
• Some Neighborhood groups have a Tool Library for community use
  

6.  What are the refuse requirements?   

• Refuse containers should be stored on the side or rear of the main building
• Place your toter no sooner than the night before your scheduled pick up
• Put your toter away no later than 24 hours after your pick up
• Properly prepare any loose items or debris
• Call 311 to arrange for any special pick ups
• For Commercial refuse, contact Liz Boddie at 428-8679
• For Hazardous Waste, contact Monroe County Department of Health to arrange for special pick up.
• §90-20 City Ordinance; (Available on City Web site)

7.  What is the Noise Ordinance?   

• No person shall make, continue, cause, or suffer or permit to be made or continued, and the owner and the person in control of a motor vehicle and the person in control of a premises shall not suffer nor permit to be made or continued,, any excessive noise. It shall be prima facie evidence of a violation of this section if noise emanating from any source, including, but not limited to, voices or other sounds caused or emitted by humans, is:
  • Audible beyond the property line of the premises from which it emanates between the hours of 10:00 pm and 8:00 am
  • Audible at a distance of 50 feet beyond the property line of the remises from which it emanates between the hours of 8:00 am and 10:00 pm
  • Audible at a distance of 50 feet from the source if emanating from a public street, public park or other public place.
• §75-4 City Ordinance; (Available on City Web site)

8.  What happens after reporting high grass and weeds and scattered debris?  

• By reporting the property address and concern, a NSC Neighborhood Conservation Officer will be sent to the property to address the concern.
• Grass must be mowed and maintained less than 10 inches.
• Trash and debris, including scattered debris, must be properly contained at all times.
• A courtesy Notice of Violation door hanger is left on occupied properties for 1st time offenders.
• When in violation, the owner has 5 business days to comply with the Notice and Order.
• After re-inspection of the property, if the violation still exists, the owner will be issued a ticket for $150 for each offense.
• The property is then sent to contract to have the violation removed at the owner's expense.
• §19NYCRR(1226)302.4; (Available on City Web site)

9.  Who must obtain a Business Permit?    

• Applicable businesses are:
  • Food Stores
  • Restaurants
  • Laundromat
  • Retail Store
  • Bar
  • Drug Store
  • Barber Shop/Salon
  • Automobile Service Facilities
• A new Business Permit fee is $25.00
  • Fee is waived for City licensed businesses
  • A new permit is required when the owner/operators name, type or location changes.
• Business Permits are renewed annually.
• §90-33 City Ordinance;(Available on City Web site)
  

10.   My apartment has no heat, whom can I call?   

• Heat must be provided by the property owner from September 15th to May 31st and be maintained at least 65 degrees.
• A call by the tenant to the property owner BEFORE contacting the NSC office is the best courtesy to obtain compliance.
• If contact to the landlord is unsuccessful or if the landlord refuses to correct the problem, a representative from the NSC office will attempt to contact the landlord.
• If the landlord continues to be uncooperative, a Neighborhood Conservation Officer may then be sent to the property to assess the situation.
• If your heat is not restored within 2 days, the owner is subject to being ticketed.
• Additional options for the tenant include:
  • If the tenant is on DSS, contact the social worker for emergency housing
  • If the tenant is not on DSS, the Salvation Army has emergency housing
  • Suggest tenant stay with relative or friend
• §19NYCRR(1226)602.3;

11.   How do I have graffiti removed from my building?   

• A program called "Graffiti Busters" is available through the City at no cost to the owner.
• A permission form (to be provided) must be signed by the property owner in order to have the graffiti removed.
• If the property owner does not sign the permission form, the graffiti must be removed by the owner at his/her expense.
• §19NYCRR(1226)303.2
  

12.   What do I do when there has been illegal dumping on my property?   

• he NCO will visit the property to observe the debris and secure any applicable affidavit and issue any necessary tickets.
• If the illegal dumping is witnessed, contact the NSC office to submit an affidavit
  • Information to be obtained should include vehicle plate, description of vehicle, individual, date and time.
• A reward is available if the violation is found guilty.
• §90-20 City Ordinance;
• §1220A Vehicle and Traffic Law including section 360-1.5

13.   What are the City's Snow Code regulations?   

• The owner and/or ground floor tenant must maintain the sidewalk free from obstructions, snow and ice.
• No person may plow or push snow onto any city Right-of-Way, which includes streets and sidewalks.
• Fire hydrants should not be blocked by snow.
• Sidewalks must be maintained, free from obstructions, snow and ice.
• Snow being pushed or plowed from one private property onto another is not enforceable by the City. This is strictly a civil matter.
• Call 428-SNOW for City street and sidewalk plowing schedules and updates.
• §90-20 City Ordinance

14.   I may have asbestos in my basement, who do I call?   

• Monroe County Health Department at 753-5075
  

15.   I have rats on my property, who can I call?   

• The owner is responsible for ridding the property of any rodent infestation
• If the rodents are coming from the property and the owner is not correcting the problem, call NSC to have an NCO inspect the property.
• If the rodents are coming from the sewers, call 753-586 for Rodent Control.
• §19NYCRR(1226)306.1

16. What times are the NSC offices open?

Normal operating hours are from 8:00 am through 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.

There are extended hours until 8:00 pm at following Neighborhood Service Centers:

Southeast Neighborhood Service Center
Monday,s 8 A.M -8:00 P.M.

Southwest Neighborhood Service Center
Tuesdays, 8 A.M -8:00 P.M.