Local Laws
Legislative Updates That May Affect You:
- Recently Passed Laws
- Animals & Pets
- Vehicles & Parking
These are just a sample of laws on record in Northumberland. Please contact the Town Clerk with any questions or needs regarding our town regulations.
TOWN OF NORTHUMBERLAND - LAW (Posted 10/7/2005)
Local Law No.____ of the year 2005
Local Law Regarding Noise and Nuisance
Be it enacted by the Town Board of the
Town of Northumberland as follows:
Section 1. General prohibition; declaration of nuisance.
It shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter to create and/or suffer, permit and/or allow the creation of any unreasonably loud, disturbing or unnecessary noise in the Town. Noise of such character, intensity or duration as to endanger the public comfort, peace or repose or to be detrimental to the life or health of any individual is declared to be a nuisance and is prohibited.
Section 2. Playing of radios or similar apparatus.
It shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person and/or owner or occupant of property in the Town to operate or play or cause to be operated or played or to suffer, permit and/or allow the operation or playing of any radio, phonograph or any musical instrument or device in such manner or with such volume at any time, particularly during the hours between 11:00pm and 7:00am, as to annoy the quiet, comfort or repose of persons in any dwelling, hotel or any other type of residence in the town.
Section 3. Mufflers required on engines.
It shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to discharge, cause to be discharged and/or suffer, permit and/or allow the discharge into the open air the exhaust of any engine or motor boat engine, except through a muffler or other device which will effectively prevent loud or explosive noise therefrom.
Section 4. Use of mechanical devices operated by compressed air.
It shall be unlawful and in violation of this chapter for any person to use, cause to be used and/or suffer, permit and/or allow the use of any mechanical device operated by compressed air unless the noise created thereby is effectively muffled and reduced.
Section 5. Penalties for offenses.
A. Criminal penalty. Any person who violates any provision of this chapter shall, upon conviction thereof, be subject to a fine not to exceed $250 or to imprisonment for a term not to exceed 15 days, or both.
B. Civil penalties; construal.
- Obedience to the provisions set fort herein may be enforced by criminal information for the penalties herein prescribed, by prosecution of the offender as provided in Subsection A of this section or by a civil action for a penalty or by civil remedy at law or equity by way of injunction or otherwise to abate or prevent a violation of the provisions of this chapter.
- Neither a judgment in nor the pendency of a criminal prosecution for an alleged violation of the provisions of this chapter nor a judgment in the pendency of a civil action at law or in equity shall be a bar to the other form of proceeding.
- The imposition of a penalty for a violation of this chapter shall not excuse the violation or permit it to continue, and the remedies herein provided for penalties and civil action to enjoin or abate a violation shall be cumulative.
C. Definitions. As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated.
CIVIL PENALTY --- A penalty not to exceed $250, to be imposed in a civil proceeding upon proof of a violation of this chapter.
Shelter, Veterinarian Reporting Laws Passed
State government proved to be a stalwart friend to animals last fall, passing two far-reaching new laws to combat animal cruelty. The Legislature and Governor enacted the Shelter Law and Veterinarian Reporting Law this fall, two powerful new tools for animal protectors. The Shelter Law deals with the most frequent cruelty complaint received across New York State: reports of dogs left outdoors without adequate shelter. These dogs are often found frozen to death in the winter or suffer dehydration and heatstroke in summer. Previously the animal cruelty law did not expressly require shelter for animals kept outdoors, so law enforcement officials could not act until a lack of shelter case became a tragic death. The new Shelter Law allows police and humane investigators to get involved before a dog suffers or dies from lack of adequate shelter. It requires anyone who keeps a dog outdoors to provide it with shelter appropriate to its breed, its physical condition, and the climate. The law also requires protection from harmful sunlight for dogs kept outdoors.
Violation will incur escalating fines but courts may reduce the fine by an amount a dependant spends to repair or build shelter for the dog.
The Veterinarian Reporting Law states that veterinarians may report suspected animal abuse to appropriate authorities and release records of the animal's treatment when they feel it is necessary to protect the animals or the public.
Rabies Control Laws Have Changed
Did you know their have been recent changes to rabies control laws in New York State. Rabies shots are now required statewide for all cats, dogs and domestic ferrets by four months of age.
If a pet bites a person, the pet must be observed for 10 days to ensure that it is healthy and does not have rabies. The new law requires that the owner must confine the animal at an appropriate facility, such as a veterinary hospital, kennel, or shelter for the 10 day observation period if the pet is not up to date on its rabies vaccination and the pet is not destroyed and tested for rabies. The costs are the responsibility of the owner. Vaccinated pets that bite someone can still be confined and observed from home in most cases.
All dogs in the state must now be licensed at four, rather than six months of age. The license tag attached to the dog's collar can help get lost dogs returned to their home and ensure the dogs are distinguished from unvaccinated and unowned dogs.
Saratoga County residents – rabies vaccination clinics are offered monthly from April – October and in February at the Saratoga County Animal Shelter. These vaccinations are available free of charge, but donations are accepted. For more information please call 584-7460.
To get your dog licensed, you must provide the town clerk with proof of an active rabies shot and if applicable, certificate that the dog has been spayed/neutered.
Spayed/Neutered - $6.00
Unspayed/Unneutered - $13.00
Exemption (Guide dog, War dog, Police dog, Work dog, Hearing Dog and Service dog) No Fee
(back to top)Local Law #4 of 1975 applying to dog owners was amended by Local Law #2 of 2003 and reads as follows:
Section 1. It shall be unlawful for any owner of or any person owning or harboring any dog in the Town of Northumberland to permit or allow such dog to:
- Run at large elsewhere than upon the premises of the owner or custodian, unless said dog shall be on a leash or accompanied by a competent person having adequate control of such dog or unless it be upon the premises of another person with the knowledge and consent of such person. For the purpose of this local law, a dog or dogs hunting in company with a hunter or hunters shall be considered as accompanied by its owner.
- Engage in habitual howling or barking or to conduct itself in such a manner as to habitually annoy any person other than the owner or person harboring such dog.
- No person, company or corporation who owns, harbors, or has custody and control of any dog or dogs shall cause or permit such dog or dogs to become a nuisance within the Town of Northumberland, New York. As used in this section "nuisance" shall be defined as follows:
- Dumping, knocking or tearing open of garbage or receptacles or causing damage or destruction to the property of a person other than the owner or person harboring such dog;
- Depositing of fecal matter or urinating upon property of a person, other than the owner or person harboring such dog.
- Chase or otherwise harass any person in such manner as reasonable to cause intimidation or to put such person in reasonable apprehensive of bodily harm or injury
- Habitually chase or bark at motor vehicles.
- Habitually annoys or harasses domestic animals.
Section 2. A dog warden to be designated by the Town of Northumberland pursuant to the Agriculture and Markets Law may enforce the provisions of this local law.
Section 3. Any person who observes a dog causing damage or destruction to the property of a person other than its owner or one harboring a dog or committing a nuisance upon the premises of a person other than its owner or harboring a dog may file a signed complaint, under oath, with a Town Justice specifying the objectionable conduct of the dog, the date thereof, the damage caused, a description of the dog and name and residence, if known, of the owner or other person harboring said dog.
Section 4. Upon receipt by the Town Justice of any complaint against the conduct of any particular dog, the Town Justice may summon the alleged owner or other person harboring said dog to appear in person before him; if the summons is disregarded, the Justice may permit the filing of any information and issue a warrant for the arrest of such person.
Section 5. This local law shall not apply to a Seeing Eye dog during such time as such dogs are performing the functions for which they are trained.
Section 6. The invalidity of any section, provision or portion of this local law shall not invalidate any other section, provision or remaining portion thereof.
Section 7. Any dog found at large, not under effective restraint or in the immediate custody and control of the responsible person, may be seized by any duly appointed dog warden, or other duly appointed officer of the Town of Northumberland, confined and impounded.
Section 8. Any dog impounded under the provisions of this local law shall be confined in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture and Markets Law of the State of New York and may be redeemed by the owner or harborer thereof upon a payment to the Town Clerk or dog warden be sold at public or private sale or be destroyed or given to a recognized society for the care and welfare of dogs. All proceedings shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Agriculture and Market Law of the State of New York.
Section 9. A violation of this local law shall be deemed an offense against the local law. Any person convicted of a violation after an investigation and hearing, shall be liable to a penalty of not more than $250.00 for each violation. Upon presentation of proof of payment of the fine or penalty, the dog warden is authorized to release any dog impounded to its owner or harborer thereof after its receipt of the redemption fee above.
(back to top)A Local Law Prohibiting the Parking of Vehicles on all Highways, Roads, Public Streets, Shoulders and Right of Way in the Town of Northumberland
Section I. The parking of vehicles is hereby prohibited on all highways, roads, public streets, shoulders, and rights of way within the Town of Northumberland during road maintenance (snow removal, ice removal, sanding and resurfacing).
Section II. A violation of this Local Law is an offense punishable by a fine not to exceed One Hundred Dollars ($100.00). In addition thereto, the Town of Northumberland shall have such other remedies as are provided by law to restrain, correct or abate and violation of this Local Law.
Section III. The Town Superintendent of Highways is hereby authorized to cause any vehicle found parked left standing on any highway, road, public street, shoulder or right of way in the Town of Northumberland during the dates and hours prohibited by this Local Law to be towed away and removed from such highway, road, public street, shoulder or right of way and in lieu of fine, the owner of such vehicle or the person who parked such vehicle or left the same standing in violation of this Local Law may pay the actual and reasonable cost of towing or removing such vehicle from the highway, road, public street, should or right of way, not exceeding the sum of $100.00.
Section IV. The location of basketball hoops or structures or other obstructions is hereby prohibited on all highways, roads, public streets and shoulders and rights of way within the Town of Northumberland. Consistent with Highway Law Sections 319 and 157 the Town Superintendent of Highways is hereby authorized to cause any basketball hoop or structure or similar obstruction found on any highway, road, public street, shoulder or right of way in the Town of Northumberland to be removed. In addition to the fine specified in Section II, the Superintendent of Highways is also authorized to charge the owner of such basketball hoop or structure or obstruction for the actual and reasonable cost and expenses of removing and storing such basketball hoop or structure or obstruction.
Section V. This Local Law shall become effective immediately upon filing in the Office of the Secretary of State.
(back to top)The Town of Northumberland announces changes to Dog Licensing Law
The Town of Northumberland today announced changes to the dog licensing program, effective January 15, 2006. The new law requires that a dog license may not be issued for a time period extending beyond the expiration date of a dog's rabies certificate.
Dog licenses issued on and after January 15, 2006, must not expire after the expiration date of the dog's rabies certificate. In order to receive a full year license, a dog that is due for a rabies vaccination booster within the next license year would need to be immunized prior to license in the Town of Northumberland.
This change affects all dogs licensed in New York State, except those licensed in New York City, which has a separate dog licensing law. There are more than 500 dogs licensed in the Town of Northumberland.
Pursuant to the New York Public Health Law, county public health authorities must offer free clinics at least every four months for the rabies vaccination of dogs as well as for cats and domesticated ferrets.
For more information regarding the changes to the dog licensing program in the Town of Northumberland, please call Denise Murphy, Town Clerk at 792-9179 or email her at townclerk@townofnorthumberland.org