Southampton Warns Property Owners Of Strategic Code Enforcement

SOUTHAMPTON, NY — Southampton Town has begun to warn residents of strategic code enforcement crackdowns in their communities.

Southampton has created a “compliance through education” component to a program aimed at strategic enforcement.

Letters are now being mailed to property owners, letting them know about the code enforcement efforts, meant to help enhance public safety, the town said.

According to town officials in the code enforcement department, as well as property owners in the Hamptons West area near Gabreski Airport, the move appears to be working.

So far, 135 letters along with copies of the law were sent out in December, warning property owners in Hamptons West that a strategic operation in their area would be coming in January.

Many property owners have called the code enforcement department, and have come into Town Hall seeking rental permits and asking what needs to be done to bring their properties up to code, town officials said.

“We already have had people come into the office and fill out permit applications as a result of those letters," said Public Safety and Emergency Management Administrator Steven Troyd. “Our goal is compliance and public safety."

The new approach comes on the heels of 3 recent crackdowns around Southampton Town, a release from Southampton Town Supervisor Jay Schneiderman said.

Last week, a strategic code enforcement operation spotlighting the Old Quogue Road/Riverside area uncovered several violations, including overcrowded houses and excessive vehicles, town officials reported.

Code enforcement officers inspected 24 properties and issued 17 notices of violation and 2 summonses for illegal rentals, overcrowding, litter and debris, and excessive vehicles, Schneiderman's release said.

Two other strategic inspections; in October in the Hampton Bays area and in November in the Flanders/Riverside area, found numerous violations.

Violators are given 30 days to comply before inspectors return to make sure the properties have been brought into compliance with town code, town officials said.

Patch photo of a previous code enforcement crackdown courtesy Southampton Town.