Suffolk County Code Chapter 290 is a set of laws that promote the safety and well-being of the citizens of Suffolk County. It is designed to minimize the number of false alarms against burglaries and fires, and requires establishments that offer short-term paid accommodation to collect an occupancy tax from people who occupy those rooms. The rate of the tax is 3% of the rental rate per room. The law also creates a registry of people who do not want their properties to be subject to adult mosquito control (spray and fog applications). Additionally, it requires the Suffolk County Department of Health Services to establish a voluntary program for covered food establishments to be designated as “suitable for people with food allergies.”Chapter 290 also validates and confirms all procedures undertaken to prepare, certify and adopt zoning ordinances by each location before January 1, 1971. It declares all zoning ordinances adopted or attempted to be adopted in accordance with the provisions of this chapter as adopted and enacted in a valid manner, without prejudice to any defect or irregularity in the adoption of the same. The law also establishes a red light safety program that uses an automatic application to improve the safety of motorists at red light intersections located within Suffolk County.
It also allows governing bodies to define and regulate uses in any existing zoning district or to adopt overlapping districts that regulate uses in mountain areas as defined by the governing body. The Environmental Conservation Act §13-0302 ceded approximately 100,000 acres of underwater land in Peconic Bay and Gardiners Bay to Suffolk County in order to establish a leasing program for seafood aquaculture. This law also allows governing bodies in certain counties and cities to establish an affordable housing unit program. Suffolk County law requires the seizure of all vehicles, whether or not they are owned by the operator, when making an arrest or issuing a subpoena or appearing ticket for driving a vehicle or boat while intoxicated (with a previous conviction); without a license (with a previous conviction); for driving recklessly (with a previous conviction); for participating in a speeding contest; illegally fleeing from a police officer or working as an unlicensed contractor; for driving recklessly (with a previous conviction); for participating in a speed contest; illegally fleeing from a police officer or working as an unlicensed contractor. The Suffolk County Human Rights Commission investigates complaints of discrimination that have occurred in Suffolk County. The Labor Union Act was created by the Suffolk County legislature and signed by the county executive to ensure that county funds were not used to prevent or promote union organizing.
