Williston Park, N.Y., Code of Ordinances ch. 168 (eCode360 ed. 2026) § 168-8
Definitions
Operative Text
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated: BUSINESS UNIT A building or combination of buildings, and the lot on which the same is located, used wholly or in part for commercial purposes, including but not limited to offices, places of public assembly, shopping centers, supermarkets, retail stores, manufacturing or fabrication plants, gasoline stations and other business uses. GARBAGE Putrescible animal and vegetable wastes resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food and readily combustible materials, such as paper, cardboard, wood, excelsior, cloth, food cans, glass food containers and bottles. GRAFFITI Any writing, painting, drawing, staining, carving, etching or other marking, by means of chalk, paint, broad-tipped pen, aerosol spray can or any other marking device or material, of any word, name, lettering, inscription, figure, design or other representation on any wall or other place on a public or private building or structure without the consent of the owner. For purposes of this definition, signs authorized under this Code are excluded. INFESTATION The presence of insects, rodents, vermin and other pests. LITTER Garbage, refuse and rubbish as herein defined and all other waste material which, if thrown or deposited as herein prohibited, tends to create a danger to public health, safety and welfare. LOT A plot, tract, premises or parcel of land, with or without buildings or structures located thereon, as surveyed and apportioned for sale or other purpose. REFUSE All putrescible and nonputrescible solid wastes, including garbage, rubbish, ashes, street cleanings, dead animals, junked vehicles and solid market and industrial wastes. RUBBISH Nonputrescible solid wastes (excluding ashes) consisting of both combustible and noncombustible wastes, such as wood, glass, bedding, crockery and similar materials. UNOCCUPIED HAZARD Any building or part thereof which remains unoccupied for a period of more than 90 days with either doors, windows or other openings broken, removed, boarded or sealed up or any building under construction upon which little or no construction work has been performed for a period of more than 90 days. YARD An open space on the same lot which contains a building and which is located between the building line and the lot line which the particular building line faces.
Section 168-8 of Williston Park's Code of Ordinances Chapter 168 establishes the shared vocabulary for the entire article on property maintenance and sanitation. Terms such as "graffiti," "litter," "refuse," "rubbish," and "unoccupied hazard" are each given precise meanings that govern how the rest of the article's rules are applied. For example, an "unoccupied hazard" specifically refers to a building left vacant for more than 90 days with compromised openings, or a stalled construction site of the same duration. These definitions set the boundaries of what conduct and conditions the article regulates.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Williston Park should familiarize themselves with the defined terms in § 168-8, because those definitions determine the scope of compliance obligations throughout Chapter 168. A compliant operator generally ensures that conditions meeting the definitions of "graffiti," "infestation," "litter," or "unoccupied hazard" are addressed before they trigger enforcement under the article's substantive provisions. Owners of vacant or partially constructed buildings in particular should note the 90-day threshold embedded in the "unoccupied hazard" definition, as it marks the point at which certain structural conditions become a defined regulatory concern.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants in Williston Park can look to § 168-8 to understand exactly what terms like "graffiti," "infestation," and "unoccupied hazard" mean when those words appear in complaints, notices, or enforcement actions under Chapter 168. Knowing these definitions can help tenants accurately describe conditions in a building—such as a pest infestation or unsecured openings in a vacant adjacent structure—when raising concerns with local code enforcement. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Williston Park's municipal code can help residents understand how these definitions connect to the substantive obligations found elsewhere in Chapter 168.
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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