Elmira Fire Department | Inspection Services Division

Property Maintenance

Take pride in your home and your community - Keep it clean! All property owners in the City of Elmira are responsible for maintaining the conditions of the property which they own. Property maintenance standards ensure the safety of others, create a consistent and favorable neighborhood environment, and maintain the value of properties in the City. Owners who fail to maintain their property may be issued a violation citation requiring them to correct the violation. If the citation is not corrected, the condition may be abated and charged to the owner or a summons may be issued for court. New York State Property Maintenance Code requires the proper installation and operation of utilities in order for a property to be habitable. Failure to maintain these utilities may result in Inspection Services boarding up the property and posting it as unfit for human habitation.

Below are some general guidelines for property maintenance according to the New York State Property Maintenance Code and the City of Elmira Code of Ordinances. Additional regulations may apply. If you have questions, please contact Inspection Services at (607) 737-5654 or click here to send email.

For more information on property maintenance, refer to the brochure, Citizen's Guide to Property Maintenance, available from Inspection Services or click below to download and print a copy.
»Citizen's Guide to Property Maintenance

Grass
If you bag your grass, put it into a clear plastic bag and place it out with your trash. High grass and weeds provides a haven for rodents, snakes, and insect infestations and are a public hazard and nuisance. Property owners must not allow the grass, brush, or weeds on their property or any public right-of-way in front of the property to grow higher than six inches. If you fail to cut or mow high grass, an inspector will issue a violation citation. If the condition is not corrected within 48 hours, the City can abate the property by mowing or cutting the grass and bill the property owner for the use of labor and equipment to abate the property.

MOWING TIPS

When mowing your lawn, don't blow cut grass into the street or dump cut grass in the street. This is illegal because it can clog catch basins and result in flooding in your yard and neighborhood.
To dispose of cut grass clippings, place in a plastic bag and place out with your regular garbage. Make sure the bag is less than 30 pounds and you do not exceed six bags.
»more about Sanitation and Garbage Collection
If you have a mulching mower, mulch the grass and leave it on your yard.
Start a mulching bin in your backyard and reuse your grass clippings to improve the landscaping in your yard.
»more on mulching from About.com

Junk and Debris
You cannot have junk and debris on your porch or in your yard. Junk and debris infringe on the rights of your neighbors and lowers the value of the neighborhood. Property owners must maintain the condition of their property and not allow junk, litter, or debris on their property, sidewalk, or the public area between the street and sidewalk. You should not place items in the area between the street and the sidewalk unless you have registered them to be picked up through the City's Furniture and Appliance Pickup Program and it is less than 12 hours before the pickup. All other junk and debris should be placed in bags for regular pickup or hauled to the dump to be properly disposed. If an inspector finds junk and debris on a property, the owner will be issued a violation citation and will need to clean it up. If the owner fails to correct the condition, the City will clean it up and bill the owner for the use of labor and equipment.
»more on the Furniture and Appliance Pickup Program
»Chemung County Solid Waste District disposal information

Garbage/Refuse
Don't put your garbage out too early or animals will get into it Garbage and refuse containers that are left on City streets are unsightly and attract animals who tip them over, spreading garbage throughout the neighborhood. Garbage containers, bags, and recyclables should not be placed on the curb more than 12 hours prior to pickup by the City's Sanitation Division and should be brought inside within 24 hours after pickup. Residents who leave their garbage containers on the curb after garbage collection for more than 24 hours may be cited by Inspection Services. Garbage that is unbagged or bagged improperly will not be collected by the Sanitation Division. Due to the health risks involved with raw garbage being left out, Inspection Services will post a letter requiring cleanup within 24 hours. If the garbage is not properly bagged and cleaned up, Inspection Services will clean it up and bill the property owner for the use of labor and equipment.
»more on Sanitation and Garbage Collection
»map of Garbage Collection Days

Snow Removal
Shovel the snow from your sidewalk and in front of the fire hydrant Sidewalks that are not properly shoveled pose a potential hazard to pedestrians, postal workers, and others who use the sidewalk in front of your property. They are also a legal liability for property owners if anyone should be injured on their sidewalk. Property owners are responsible for shoveling the snow and ice from the sidewalk in front of their property within 12 hours after it starts snowing. They should also make sure that fire hydrants are shoveled out so that the fire department doesn't lose valuable time in the event of a fire. If a property owner does not shovel the sidewalk, the walk will be shoveled by the City and the property owner will be billed for the labor, and equipment used to abate the property.
»more on Snow Removal from roads and sidewalks

Sidewalk Conditions
This sidewalk is dangerous and should be repaired Sidewalks adjoining a property must be kept in good condition to allow for safe passage of pedestrians and to reduce the liability of the property owner. If the sidewalk heaves, breaks, has uneven blocks, or has holes in it, the property owner will need to repair the sidewalk. To repair the sidewalk, you will need to complete a sidewalk permit application and return it to the Public Works Administration Office on the third floor of City Hall prior to starting any work. All sidewalk repair must be done to the sidewalk specifications and standards.
»sidewalk permit application
»sidewalk specifications and standards

Address Numbers
House numbers should be visible from the street It is very important that your house or business have address numbers visible from the street so that Fire, Police, and Ambulance emergency services can easily locate the property. According to New York State Fire Code, buildings must have approved address numbers placed in a position to be plainly legible and visible from the street or road facing the property. These numbers should contrast with their background and numbers should be Arabic numbers or alphabetic numbers. Numbers should be a minimum of 4 inches high with a minimum stroke width of 0.5 inches. If you do not know the address of your property, contact the City of Elmira Assessor's Office at (607) 737-5670.
»Assessor's Office

Utilities
Utilties are necessary for tasks such as cooking and bathing that support life. Utilities are required to meet the basic human needs of food, shelter, and clothing, to maintain clean and healthy sanitary conditions, and to maintain a safe and comfortable living environment. All properties in the City of Elmira are required to have properly installed, maintained, and functional utilities to provide basic life service including: sanitary hot and cold water, toilet facilities, heat, and electricity. Every sink, toilet, bathtub, shower, or other plumbing fixture must be connected to an adequate water source. Heat must be provided to maintain a temperature of at least 65 degrees Fahrenheit from September 15th to May 31st. If a property owner fails to maintain these utilities, the property may be closed by Inspection Services and posted as unfit for human habitation.

Landlords and Tenants
Landlords have to maintain their properties - tenants have to report problems right away Landlords are responsible for maintaining the property and the utilities on the property for the tenant. Tenants are responsible for notifying the landlord in the event there is a problem with any utilities such as a furnace or bathroom facilities. Depending on the lease agreement, tenants may also be responsible for some of the property maintenance such as mowing the lawn or shoveling the snow from the sidewalk. If you are a tenant, make sure you understand the terms of your lease and your responsibilities for maintaining the property. Tenants should always properly dispose of garbage and refuse instead of letting it pile up in the yard or a room in the property. Landlords should conduct regular inspections to ensure that all utilities are properly functioning, that garbage is being properly disposed, and that your tenants are living in sanitary conditions. For more information, see the booklets below.
»Responsibilities for Landlords Booklet
»Responsibilities for Tenants Booklet

Rental Housing Registration and Certification
According to the City of Elmira Code of Ordinances, all rental housing in the City of Elmira must be registered by completing the Rental Housing Registration Form and returning it to the City Assessor's Office. After turning in a fully completed registration form, the property is certified to be used as a rental property.
»more on Rental Housing Registration and Certification

Complaints
If you know of a property within the City of Elmira that is not properly maintained, you can submit a complaint online. An inspector will be assigned to investigate the complaint and issue any violations that exist at the time of the inspection. You can also file a complaint by calling Inspection Services at (607) 737-5654.
»Submit an anonymous complaint online