FAST, FREE GRAFFITI REMOVAL BY THE CITY

From Realty Bites

Graffiti Removal Program at no cost to property owners:

A new law recently went into effect (Local Law 65-2009) that fast tracks removing graffiti on buildings in New York City, and makes it easier for business owners and residents to get it removed.

HOW the GRAFFITI-FREE PROCESS works: The new law went into effect on April 7, 2010, and the Administration has been focused on smoothing out technical issues that might arise as the 35-day notices are sent in to city government. The highlights of the law are:

• If you’re the owner or authorized representative of a property, you can request free removal of graffiti on your building by filling out a Forever Graffiti Free form here. (Forms are also written in Spanish and Chinese).
• If you see graffiti on someone else’s property, call 311 to report it.
• If graffiti is observed on your building and you do not already have a Forever Graffiti Free form or waiver in the City’s system, you’ll receive a “Notice of Intent to Clean” from the Department of Sanitation.

This notice will explain that you have three options:

• You can inform the City that you want to clean the graffiti yourself. Call 311.
• You can inform the City that you consent to the markings identified as graffiti on your building, for whatever reason. Call 311.
• If you don’t take either of those two steps, the City will route your property for cleaning after 35 days.

A few things to note:

• The City of New York will send the “Notice of Intent to Clean” to all addresses on file for the property, checking all City databases (DOF, HPD).
• Property owners or representatives can request a 15-day extension, if they need more time to make up their minds.
• If you already have a waiver or Forever Graffiti Free form on file, you don’t need to fill another one out as long as you own the property.

Here are more detailed FAQs.