Source: http://rules.cityofnewyork.us/tags/padlock-premises-operating-without-permit
Timestamp: 2018-07-20 07:13:42
Document Index: 664940422

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 556', '§5', '§5', '§17', '§5', '§5']

Padlock Premises Operating Without Permit | NYC Rules
These amendments to the New York City Health Code (the “Health Code”) are made in accordance with §§ 556, 558 and 1043 of the New York City Charter (the “Charter”). Section 556 of the Charter provides the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (the “Department”) with the authority to regulate all matters affecting health in the City of New York. Sections 558(b) and (c) of the Charter empower the Board of Health (the “Board”) to amend the Health Code and to include in the Health Code all matters over which the Department has authority. Section 1043 of the Charter gives the Department rulemaking powers.
The Board is amending Article 5 of the Health Code to add a new §5.04, authorizing the Department to padlock and seal premises where businesses are operating without required permits. The term permit, as defined in §5.03(b) of the Health Code, includes licenses and registrations.
Several times a year, the Department identifies businesses operating without the permits required by the Health Code. These businesses include swimming pools and spas, pet shops, food service establishments, animal shelters, animal grooming and kennel facilities and commercial stables. The Department regards such businesses, which are unregulated and uninspected, as nuisances, inherently dangerous to life or health. The definition of a nuisance and the Department’s authority to order the abatement of a nuisance derive from New York City Administrative Code (“Administrative Code”) §17- 142 et seq.
The amendment to Article 5 codifies this practice in the Health Code, providing notice to businesses of the likely consequences of operating without necessary permits or in violation of orders to cease and desist from operation, and enables the Department to continue acting expeditiously to protect public health. This remedy will be utilized only when the Department has conducted a thorough investigation and has exhausted less stringent measures to obtain compliance with permitting or other Health Code requirements, such as meetings, telephone calls or correspondence with the operator of an unpermitted business or the property owner.
The Department agrees with the New York State Restaurant Association that all permittees would benefit from e-mail notifications and should be required to provide e-mail addresses. Thus, Health Code
§5.05(d) is being broadened to allow the Department to collect and use e-mail addresses from all
permittees to send them information about non-emergency matters, such as newsletters generally promoting food and environmental safety, proposed Health Code changes, and other issues of educational and technical interest to permittees in the many areas regulated by the Department. As required under applicable laws, the Department will continue to mail and personally serve letters denying issuance of new permits, Commissioner’s orders, notices of violation, and permit or license renewal applications; and will continue to publish proposed amendments to the Health Code.
Finally, the Department does not expect this change to overly burden permittees and applicants for new permits. During the week of January 7, 2013, the Department surveyed applicants at the Citywide Licensing Center for Department restaurant permits and found that 57 of the 65 surveyed persons had an e-mail address; and that 49 had used both computers and mobile phones (n=39) to access e-mail for business communications during the past five days, or used either computers (n=5) or a mobile phone (n=1) for the same purpose. Although several persons said they had no interest in obtaining an e-mail address, others said that they could obtain one if they needed it, knew that they would be able to set up a free e-mail account with an internet service provider, and could access their e-mail through family or friends or at nearby public libraries if they were required to have an e-mail address.
Accordingly, the Board is amending §5.05(d) of the Health Code to clarify that communication other than emergency messages may be conveyed by e-mail to permitted entities.
Read more about Article 5 - General Permit Provisions