Mount Vernon, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 149 § 149-41

A. The Commissioner of Buildings, with the cooperation of the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Fire Commissioner, shall administer and enforce this chapter and secure compliance herewith, and is hereby empowered to adopt rules and regulations necessary for securing such compliance. B. The Commissioner is hereby authorized to conduct surveys of housing in any area of the municipality to determine the condition of premises, extent of deterioration, lack of facilities, inadequate maintenance, unsafe and unsanitary conditions, extent of overcrowding, land use and other relevant factors. C. It shall be the duty of the Building Commissioner, with the cooperation and assistance of the Commissioner of Public Safety and the Fire Commissioner, to: (1) Secure periodic inspections, to be made not less than once every four years, of all multidwellings within the scope of applicable housing standards. (2) Cause an investigation of all complaints of alleged housing violations or other unsafe or unsanitary conditions. (3) Order in writing the remedying of all conditions found to exist in or on any premises in violation of provisions of this chapter or of rules and regulations adopted by the Commissioner of Buildings; state in the violation order a reasonable time limit for compliance therewith and, where necessary, order the vacation of the premises found unfit for human habitation. (4) Request the Corporation Counsel of the municipality to take appropriate legal action in the name of the Commissioner of Buildings upon failure of the responsible party to comply with such violation order within the time specified therein, to institute appropriate action to restrain, prevent, enjoin, abate, correct or remove such violation, and to take such other legal action as is necessary to carry out the terms and provisions of this chapter. The remedies provided for herein shall be cumulative and not exclusive and shall be in addition to any other remedies provided by law; any and all remedies may be pursued concurrently or consecutively, and the pursuit of any remedy shall not be construed as an election or the waiver of the right to pursue any and all of the others. (5) Cause a search of the Building Department's records of housing violations existing on any premises and issue a certified statement thereof upon receipt of written request and payment of any fees required by local law or ordinance. (6) Study housing conditions in the City. (7) Cooperate with other municipal, governmental and private agencies engaged in the study and improvement of housing conditions. (8) Publish an annual report of housing conditions in the City, accomplishments of the Building Department and recommendations for the future. D. Where violations of this chapter exist and pose an immediate hazard or danger to the health, safety or welfare of building occupants or of the public, the Building Commissioner may issue an order citing the violation and directing such action by such Building Commissioner as is necessary to remove or abate the immediate hazard or danger. E. Whenever the Building Commissioner determines that there has been a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, he shall give notice of such violation to the owner, agent, operator, occupant or other person responsible for such violation. Such notice shall be in writing and shall specify the alleged violation and shall provide at least 48 hours for compliance, except as provided in § 149-46 of this article, and shall be served upon the owner, agent, operator, occupant or other person responsible for such violation. Such notice shall be deemed to be properly served upon such owner, agent, operator, occupant or other person responsible for such violation if a copy thereof is served upon him personally, or if a copy thereof is posted in a conspicuous place in or about the building affected by the notice and a copy is mailed on the same day it is posted to the last known address of the owner, agent, operator or occupant, or by such other method authorized by the laws of the State of New York.