Town board adopts time-limited amnesty program to resolve rescinded certificates of occupancy for ~20 homes

After prolonged testimony from homeowners who said they purchased properties in good faith, the Town of North Hempstead on July 8 adopted a legacy-amnesty framework aimed at resolving long-running rescinded certificate-of-occupancy (C of O) cases affecting roughly 20–22 properties.

Edward, the committee chair and an architect by trade, told the board the committee27s work identified a relatively small number of affected homes and proposed a limited amnesty to allow those owners to legalize overages without wholesale demolition. The committee recommended a mix of incentives: an application window (residents must apply by Aug. 26, 2026), a reduced fee schedule (committee recommended a 35% reduction from previously assessed fines/fees in many cases) and a time period for payment and compliance (the proposal provides an effective three-year window: one year to apply plus two years for completing compliance and payments).

Homeowners described hardship. Ralph Schrader said he bought his house in good faith and called the prior rescission and the town's earlier handling "fraud"; Jennifer Schrader said she and her husband had already spent thousands of dollars on architects and had been unfairly burdened by inconsistent enforcement and prior notice practices. Council members pressed for protections for homeowners who are demonstrably victims, and some expressed concern that an across-the-board discount might reward bad actors. Deputy Commissioner Colleen Norgen said about 48 homes had been brought into compliance historically, by a mix of BZA variances, demolition and fines, but that roughly 20 remained unresolved.

After discussion the board adopted the committee's recommendation as a framework, with language allowing individualized payment plans through the building department and the possibility of future amendments. The adopted program is not retroactive to provide refunds to homeowners who previously paid fines; the committee and town attorney said retroactive relief would be administratively and legally fraught.

The ordinance provides a remedial path that allows qualifying homeowners to legalize structures largely by paying assessed fees (with committee-recommended reductions) and avoided structural removals in most cases. The building department will send letters to homeowners on the committee's list and will issue guidance on application steps and documentation required. The board asked staff to prepare clarifying language and to consider additional safeguards to identify owners who may be demonstrably innocent victims versus those who knowingly violated code.

The measure passed with a roll-call vote; the building department will administer the program and publish application instructions.