I’m proud to announce that the Clarkstown Town Board voted unanimously to pass an
unprecedented code enforcement legislative package at the February 10, 2026 meeting. This
new legislation consists of four new measures that will substantially increase Clarkstown’s code
enforcement strength and capabilities. As promised, my administration and the Town Council
continue to build on the aggressive code enforcement efforts that the town has already taken.
These efforts resulted in securing a record amount of fines from violations in 2025.
Here’s a quick rundown of the four components in the new legislation:
Repeat Code Offenders Act: Councilman Jon Valentino introduced legislation to strengthen
the penalties that can be imposed on repeat offenders. This act permanently codifies the Town
Attorney's ability to pursue unlimited collection of civil compromise damages in Town Justice
Court.
Code Violators Civil Fines Act of 2026: Councilman Mike Graziano introduced a local law
establishing significantly higher fines for all code enforcement violations. Hitting violators harder
in the pocketbook will serve as a deterrent to committing these violations in the first place.
Deputy Town Attorney Designation Act: Councilman Bob Axelrod introduced legislation to
formally create the position of “Deputy Town Attorney for Code Enforcement.” This will be the
first time a Town Attorney position in Clarkstown is specifically dedicated to code enforcement
cases and issues, which will help enhance the town’s legal ability to pursue violators in court.
Code Enforcement Hiring Act of 2026: Councilman Don Franchino introduced a resolution
committing the town to hiring three additional code enforcement officers, with one being a
bilingual Spanish speaking position. The resolution also authorized the personnel department to
expend funds to do more extensive advertising for qualified applicants, including on
commercially available job boards and sites. Upon hiring of these three additional positions, the
town will have a total of eight full time code enforcement officers.
Combined, these new measures will greatly enhance the town’s ability to detect, deter, and
prosecute illegal housing violations. Clarkstown already has the largest and most aggressive
code enforcement team in the county, which will now be even further expanded. I am fortunate
to work with a team of council members who all share this commitment to protecting our
community. But even with overwhelming support for these measures from both the Town Board
and residents, this is not an easy battle to fight. There are a number of substantial challenges all
municipalities face in trying to combat illegal housing. Due process, access and privacy rights,
complex legal hurdles, and limits on municipal powers are all factors that affect code
enforcement efforts. Bringing violators into compliance often takes time and tremendous effort.
Justice doesn’t happen overnight, but our message to code violators is clear: if you violate the
code in Clarkstown, we will use every resource available to hold you accountable.
And finally, please remember that residents play an important role in this process. If you are
aware of a potential code violation, please report it to the town through the MyClarkstown 311
App or by calling the Building Department at 845-639-2100.
