New City, NY – February 14th marks the third anniversary of the Rockland County Office of Buildings and Codes (OBC), an initiative that began when the New York State Department of State ordered the county to take over the Village of Spring Valley’s Building Department on February 14, 2022.
Since its launch, OBC has conducted 4,000 inspections and issued more than 16,000 violations, resulting in over half a million dollars in fines against property owners who failed to comply with the New York State Uniform Code. The scale of the violations highlights the challenges the department inherited, with the average number of violations per property in Spring Valley far exceeding typical municipal inspections.
Rockland County Executive Ed Day acknowledged the magnitude of the task, noting that the takeover was necessary to address years of mismanagement and illegal housing. He emphasized that while progress has been made, resolving long-standing issues remains an ongoing effort.
Key accomplishments of OBC over the past three years include the establishment of an administrative court for hearings, a record-keeping system to track violations and inspections, and the development of streamlined enforcement processes. The agency also rebuilt a comprehensive property master list and recruited and trained new building and fire inspectors after removing noncompliant personnel from the former Spring Valley department.
OBC Director Ed Markunas highlighted that despite significant challenges, the department met its goal of completing three years’ worth of inspections in just two years, while continuing to address new violations daily.
As OBC continues to enforce building and fire codes exclusively in Spring Valley, officials encourage residents to stay engaged in local governance. With approximately 200,000 registered voters in Rockland County, turnout for local elections remains significantly lower than for national elections, something Day urges residents to change.
“The decisions that impact your homes, families, and taxes are made at the local level,” Day said, encouraging residents to make their voices heard at the ballot box.
Residents can report building and fire code concerns by calling 845-364-3700 or emailing BuildingsandCodes@co.rockland.ny.us.