The Village of Great Neck implemented an amnesty program for residents with unpermitted basements that will allow them to file the necessary paperwork to legalize their basement without the fear of being penalized.
The program was adopted by the village’s Board of Trustees Tuesday night.
Before construction on a basement, permits cost $1,500. But if work is started without obtaining a permit, fees are increased to $3,000. This again jumps to a tripled fee of $4,500 if the unpermitted construction is completed without a permit.
Under the amnesty program, residents with an unpermitted basement can legalize their basement construction with a flat fee of $1,500. This is available to residents with basements in any stage of the construction phase.
The program was established after a wave of residents discovered their basements did not comply with the village’s building code. Some residents previously informed the board that their basements were illegally constructed before moving in, only later to find out that these did not comply with the village’s code.
The amnesty program is in place through June 30, 2025.
In other news, Superintendent Louis Massaro of the Department of Public Works will be retiring after more than 40 years working with the village.
Massaro joined the village in July 1983. He is set to retire at the end of March.
The Village of Great Neck Board of Trustees is scheduled to convene again March 19.
