Geneva code enforcement outlines permit process, complaint volumes and enforcement limits

Neil Bridal, superintendent of building and zoning for the City of Geneva, gave a detailed overview of the city’s code enforcement work during the council meeting on June 3, describing how the department issues building permits, handles municipal-code complaints and works with courts and social services on complex cases.

Bridal said the department enforces the New York State building codes and Geneva’s municipal ordinances and that “the intent is to issue building permits” and to “enforce minimum standards” so buildings are safe and maintainable. He described permit review, contractor insurance checks and plan review for large projects, and said code staff must complete 24 hours of in‑service training annually.

The presentation said the department issued 266 building permits in 2024, collected about $25,000 in permit fees and recorded roughly $13 million in reported added value from permitted work. Bridal reported 485 complaints for the year and said, as of June 3, the department had received 245 complaints and issued 31 building permits year-to-date. Typical complaint categories include trash and exterior conditions, interior conditions, grass/lawn, snow removal and garbage totes.

Councilors pressed staff on enforcement timelines and remedies. Councilor Petropolis asked whether complaint counts were deduplicated; Bridal said the report removes duplicates but individual properties can generate multiple incidents over time. Councilor Morocco asked why some cases take months in court; Bridal and David (city attorney) replied that due process and court scheduling frequently extend timelines and that the city has limited leverage when property owners lack resources. David said the city pursues injunctive relief and graduated fines in cases of recalcitrant owners but often works with social-service partners for owners or tenants with limited means.

Bridal described the city’s stepwise enforcement process for municipal-code violations: inspection and photographic documentation, a notice and a cure period (often 30 days for building-code orders to remedy), a possible appearance ticket and, when necessary, use of city crews or contracted vendors to abate violations with the costs billed to the property owner (sometimes plus a 50% administrative fee). He also noted the city can place charges on property tax rolls if work is completed by the city.

Bridal and Councilors discussed specific common problems, including hoarding cases that require a health-and-social-services response, trash and bulky items left at curbs, and sidewalk snow-removal complaints. Bridal said the department tries to balance enforcement with education and to refer residents to assistance when need is driving noncompliance. Brian Kelly, identified in the presentation as the department’s hoarding specialist, was credited with coordinating cases that require social-service intervention.

Bridal acknowledged limits: court processes can be slow, contractors sometimes lack insurance and some property owners pay taxes and meet minimum requirements so the city’s enforcement options are constrained. He closed by reminding residents of the city complaints email (complaints@cityofgenevany.gov) and urging people to report violations.

Ending: Councilors thanked Bridal for the overview and used the presentation to frame later budget and staffing questions. The department did not present new policy changes or seek council approval at the June 3 meeting; the session provided an operational briefing and answered council questions about timelines, costs and enforcement options.