Massena, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 186 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 186-43
Nuisances
Operative Text
The following conditions are hereby declared to be nuisances and the maintenance of such nuisances is hereby prohibited within the Incorporated Village of Massena. It shall be unlawful for any owner of real property within the Village or the agent of such owner and/or any person, firm or corporation lawfully occupying any real property within the Village to permit: A. Whatever is dangerous to human life and health. B. Uncut grass, weeds, brush or any portion of said growth to obtain a height in excess of 12 inches. C. Rubbish or rubble to accumulate thereon. D. Boats or motor vehicles or portions thereof to be parked or stored for unreasonable periods of time or to be parked or stored if it is abandoned, wrecked, dismantled, junked or substantially damaged and is not intended to be used or in no condition for legal use upon the public highway. E. Whatever building or structural part or cellar thereof is overcrowded or not provided with adequate means of egress or is not sufficiently supported, ventilated, sewered, drained or cleaned. F. Whatever renders soil, air, water, or food impure or unwholesome. G. Slaughterhouses, privies, hogpens, accumulations of dung or manure, carcasses, swill, brine, pigeon coops, urine of animals or any stinking, obnoxious, offensive, foul or filthy liquids or other matters or conditions. H. Discarded material of any kind, rubbish, or refuse that is maintained beyond normally scheduled garbage removal. I. Accumulations of brush, tree stumps, or other vegetative waste or rubble or construction waste that is maintained beyond normally scheduled garbage removal J. Ponds or pools of stagnant water. K. Pits, holes, excavations, uncovered wells or other declivities of land which are unsightly or are liable to cause injuries to persons falling therein or therefrom. L. Barbed wire, razor wire, electrified fences, or such fences as are otherwise forbidden by the provisions of the Code of the Incorporated Village of Massena. M. Accumulations of junk, old metals or machinery, rags or newspapers. N. On private property located within any residence district of the Village, the maintenance of any container actually accommodating or designed to accommodate more than one cubic yard of rubbish, refuse or discarded material of any kind or the maintenance, within any residence district on private property, of any bulk storage containers for any period of time whatsoever. For the purposes of this chapter, a "bulk storage container" is defined as a standard Dempster Dumpster Gallon E-Z Pack front-end-loading-type container or an equal container for garbage and other waste materials that can be hauled directly to the point of disposal or emptied into a large compactor-type truck for disposal.
Section 186-43 of Massena's Code of Ordinances identifies a broad list of property conditions that the Village officially classifies as nuisances, making it unlawful to allow them to persist on any real property within the Incorporated Village of Massena. The prohibited conditions range from overgrown grass exceeding 12 inches and accumulations of rubbish or junk to stagnant water, unsafe structural conditions, and the storage of wrecked or abandoned vehicles. Bulk storage containers, such as large dumpster-style units, are also prohibited on private property within residential districts for any period of time under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and their agents operating within the Incorporated Village of Massena are generally expected to maintain their properties in a manner that avoids every condition enumerated in § 186-43, including keeping vegetation trimmed below 12 inches, promptly removing debris and discarded materials, and ensuring that structures meet basic safety and sanitation standards. Compliant operators typically arrange for regular removal of rubbish and refuse so that accumulations do not persist beyond normally scheduled garbage collection, and they avoid storing abandoned, wrecked, or dismantled vehicles on their properties. Landlords managing residential properties should also be aware that § 186-43 expressly prohibits the placement of bulk storage containers—such as large front-end-loading dumpsters—on private property within any residence district, regardless of how briefly they are kept.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants occupying property in the Incorporated Village of Massena have an interest in understanding that § 186-43 places the legal obligation to prevent nuisance conditions on both property owners and any person lawfully occupying real property, which can include tenants themselves. If a tenant believes that a landlord is permitting conditions on the property that fall within the nuisance categories listed in § 186-43—such as unsafe structural conditions, stagnant water, or inadequate egress—they may consider documenting those conditions and reaching out to the Village's code enforcement office to report a potential violation. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help occupants understand how this provision may interact with their lease obligations and what local complaint or enforcement processes are available.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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