Zombie Home Registry Now Live In Town Of Oyster Bay

OYSTER BAY, NY — An online registry meant to combat the blight of "zombie homes" across the Town of Oyster Bay is now live.

The new initiative, dubbed the Abandoned Property/Zombie Home Registry, allows residents to report any abandoned properties in their neighborhoods to Town officials. These homes have been vacant for an extended period of time and are typically owned by a bank, trust, or mortgage company.

"The objective of the Town's Zombie Home Program is to ensure the Town of Oyster Bay continues to be a highly desirable community to live, work and raise a family," said Town Supervisor Joseph Saladino. "This new, online registry will help our Department of Planning and Development enhance their tracking of eyesores."

The Town's Code Enforcement Bureau continually monitors vacant properties, issues Notices of Violations against them, and takes action to clean them up. Once all options to rehabilitate the property have been exhausted, the Town seeks legal remedies to demolish it.

"Protecting our suburban quality of life is a top priority for the Town Board," said Councilman Lou Imbroto, who serves as chairman of the Town's Quality of Life Taskforce. "No community should be forced to deal with unmaintained and dangerous eyesores that serve as havens for squatters, rodents, and other such problems."

The online registry was established under a grant provided through the New York State Housing Stabilization Fund. Click here to report an abandoned property.