Every January, I submit to the Village Board my annual report of activities. In 2024, my office issued 173 Building Permits, conducted 80 Storm Drainage Inspections and 24 Certificates of Occupancy were approved. Additionally, we submitted 24 Housing Court cases to the Town of Cheektowaga for prosecution. The Village of Sloan is mandated to administer and enforce the Uniform Fire Prevention and Building Code of New York. Building permits are required for any work that must meet NYS or Village Code. The list is quite extensive and includes items such as fences, roofs, interior/exterior sewer repairs, electrical services, sheds, garages, equipment installation, concrete work and more. As spring is around the corner with summer soon to follow, ALL swimming pools that are capable of holding more than 24” of water must meet NYS Code and require a Building Permit. Check with Village Hall on the depth, distance from lot line and structures, electrical and barrier requirements, and more before any pool purchase. We will guide you on the size and placement permissible on your property, based on your survey. The Village is required by the DEC to examine every property being sold for improper cross connections between storm and sanitary systems. This is called a “Storm Drainage Inspection” which must be applied for prior to sale. I ensure that all gutters, downspouts and sump pump discharge are not connected into the sanitary; and that all connections from your bathroom, kitchen and laundry facilities are not connected to any storm drain outlet. Cross connections permit untreated water into our rivers and Lake Erie, and contribute to the high cost of sewer treatment. An inspection may result in property owners being responsible for repairs of these connections, or the permanent capping of rain leaders and basement floor drains. Certificates of Occupancy are required for any newly constructed buildings, and reissues for any properties that have been vacant in excess of one year. NYS Code also requires triennial inspections for all multiple dwellings - which are those residences that contain three or more units/apartments. My office must also inspect annually every property that contains public assembly space that can hold fifty or more persons, such as restaurants and churches. All permits, inspections and certificates that are part of the Code Enforcement Officers’ responsibilities are designed to keep our resident’s health and safety in mind. Properties that have code violations are detrimental to our neighborhoods and can negatively affect property values. Strict enforcement is crucial for maintaining our community. If you receive a letter of violation from my office, please contact me to discuss a plan and timeline for remediation.