HomeMy WebLinkAboutI - 17 Proposed Local Law - Private Fire HydrantsTOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE
LOCAL LAW NO. _____ OF 2022
A LOCAL LAW ADOPTING THE TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE’S PRIVATE
FIRE HYDRANT LAW IN THE TOWN OF CORTLANDVILLE, NEW YORK
BE IT ENACTED by the Town Board of the Town of Cortlandville, as follows:
SECTION 1. TITLE.
This local law shall be known as “A Local Law to Adopt the Private Fire Hydrant
Law in the Town of Cortlandville, New York.”
SECTION 2. STATUTORY AUTHORITY.
This Local Law is intended to be consistent with and is enacted by the Town
Board of the Town of Cortlandville pursuant to its authority to adopt laws under the New
York State Constitution, the New York State Municipal Home Rule Law, and the New
York State Town Law. It is intended and is hereby declared to address matters of local
concern only and is intended to act in furtherance of the Town’s authority with respect to
existing zoning and land use laws and its police powers, related to the planning and
physical use of real property within the Town.
SECTION 3. PURPOSE AND INTENT.
The purpose of this chapter is to establish a program for identifying and
registering private fire hydrants; to determine the responsibilities of owners of private fire
hydrants; and to ensure the proper functioning of fire safety equipment in the Town of
Cortlandville to protect public safety.
SECTION 4. DEFINITIONS.
As used in this section, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
Enforcement Officer: A duly authorized representative of the Cortlandville
Water Department.
Hydrant:The above ground appliance (as defined by the National Fire Protection
Association (NFPA)) used to provide a water supply to fire apparatus in the event of a
fire or other emergency.
Private hydrant:A fire hydrant located on private property, whose water is
provided by the Town of Cortlandville, but the underground piping in which the water
moves and the hydrants are owned and maintained by the property owner.
Hydrant owner:The person or entity (or their designee), according to Town of
Cortlandville records, who is responsible for tax payments (or other payments to the
Town) for the property on which the hydrant is installed.
Hydrant maintenance:The process of regular maintenance of a fire hydrant to
determine its capability to provide the desired water supply for which it was designed;
and to exercise all valves, caps, etc.; and to lubricate and paint as needed.
SECTION 5.IDENTIFICATION OF PRIVATE HYDRANTS.
All private fire hydrants shall be marked by an approved identification means and
shall be painted as follows:
a. Barrel: _________________
b. Caps & Stem: ______________
c. Bonnet: ___________________
SECTION 6. MAINTENANCE
Once installed, the property owner shall ensure any private hydrants are inspected
regularly, but in no event less than once annually, to insure satisfactory operation. The
inspection shall be performed to meet the applicable standard for hydrant inspection
standards, and include, at minimum:
a. Verify ability to find hydrant, debris cleared
b. Verify ability to open hydrant
c. Verify ability to utilize hydrant for fire protection or maintenance purposes.
d. Verify hydrant drains properly
e. Reasonably assess status of paint and repaint, if necessary
f. Lubricate all caps with food grade grease
g. Confirm auxiliary valve is open
h. Confirm a measured clearance of no less than fourteen inches between the
bottom of all connections and the ground or installed base.
i. Tag inoperable hyd rants with a clearly visible mark.
The Town of Cortlandville Water Department shall be contacted prior to the
flowing of any water via private fire hydrants.
The Town of Cortlandville Fire Department shall be notified if such a water flow
could also result in receipt of a false alarm from an installed fire suppression system.
SECTION 7. AUTHORIZED INSPECTION.
The owner of a private fire hydrant located on non-Town owned property shall
maintain and have such hydrant annually inspected by the Town of Cortlandville or a
qualified person or entity chosen from a list provided by Town of Cortlandville. Such
inspection must be performed to the standards required herein and must be reported to the
Town of Cortlandville Water Department in a format approved by the Town of
Cortlandville.
SECTION 8. NOTIFICATIONS AND ACCESS.
The Cortlandville Water Department shall be contacted regarding any private
hydrant that:
1. is taken out of service immediately upon discovery of the issue placing the
hydrant out of service.;
2. upon completion of any work performed on a private hydrant, prior to placing a
private hydrant back in service, no water shall be allowed to flow through any private
hydrant without documentation by the Town of Cortlandville Water Department of the
inspection and a determination by the Superintendent that the private hydrant complies
with all applicable standards, rules and regulations;
3. No person will shut off, disconnect, remove or disable a private hydrant
without the Town of Cortlandville approval;
4. The Town of Cortlandville Water Department shall have access onto
properties containing Private Hydrants, as necessary, for the purposes of inspecting for
leaks.
SECTION 9. DUTY TO REPAIR.
1. Upon notice of required repair issued by t he Town of Cortlandville Fire
Department, Water Department or inspecting plumber, the property owner must complete
such repairs and certify that the hydrant meets the inspection standards herein, within 30
days of such notice.
SECTION 10. PENALTIES –FAILURE TO INSPECT,FAILURE TO REPAIR,
NON-COMPLIANCE, FRAUD.
Anyone violating any of the provisions of this chapter shall, upon conviction
thereof, be punishable by a fine of not more than $250 or by imprisonment for a term of
not more than 15 days, or by both such fine and imprisonment.
Prior to commencing enforcement action for a violation of this law, the enforcing
person shall give the property owner a 30 day written notice to comply with the law.
Each day a hydrant is not in compliance with this law, and each hydrant found to be in
violation of this bylaw, shall constitute a separate offense.
SECTION 16. SEVERABILITY.
If any clause, sentence, paragraph, section, or part of this Local Law shall be
adjudged by any court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such judgment shall not
affect, impair or invalidate the remainder hereof, but shall be confined in operation to the
clause, sentence, paragraph, section or part hereof directly involved in the controversy in
which such determination shall have been rendered.
SECTION 17. EFFECTIVE DATE.
This Local Law shall be effective upon its filing with the Secretary of State in
accordance with the Municipal Home Rule Law, and shall apply to all vacant properties
existing at the time of the effective date.