Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the violations that you can be ticketed for are as follows:

• Parking more than 12 inches from the curb
• Parking left of the curb
• Parking within 15 feet of a fire hydrant
• No parking here to corner
• Blocking the sidewalk, crosswalk or a driveway
• Parking outside of marked lanes
• Parking in handicapped zone
• Double-parking
• Parking between the curb and the sidewalk or in front yard without permit
• Parking between the hours of 2 to 6 am
• Parking where there are signs stating no parking or limited time parking

Parking fines range from $20 to $50 depending on the violation. 

• A $20 fine not paid within 15 days becomes $30.
• If the $20 fine is not paid within 30 days it becomes $40. 
• A $35 fine or a $50 fine if not paid within 15 days doubles. 

Also parking violations could result with the vehicle being towed.

Ticket and fine may be brought or sent with your name and address to the following address:
City Comptroller, City Hall
47 Castle Street
Geneva, New York 14456

You may also pay your ticket/fine online.

YES! City Code Section 335-27(A):  “Authority to remove and impound vehicles. When any vehicle is parked or abandoned on any highway in the City during a weather event or a state of emergency as defined in § 335-16C or during a snow storm, flood, fire, or other public emergency which affects that portion of the public highway upon which said vehicle is parked or abandoned, or when any vehicle is found unattended on any highway in the City where said vehicle constitutes an obstruction to traffic, or when any vehicle is parked or abandoned on any highway or parking lot in the City where not duly registered or not displaying registration and plates or is parked or abandoned on any highway or any City property, said vehicle may be removed and impounded by direction of any police officer of the City to any place or garage designated by the Chief of Police.”

Please note: Towing of vehicles is most common during the winter parking regulations, which are between December 1st and April 1st.

You have to pay the parking ticket for the violation in addition to the tow fee plus storage charged by the tow agency.

If you are 12 years of age and under you can, except for in the Downtown Business District, or if you are a handicapped person who cannot walk as stated in section 65.88 of the Municipal Code below:

65.88 Riding on Sidewalks

• No person shall ride a bicycle upon any sidewalk. This provision shall not apply, however, to children twelve years of age or under or to handicapped persons who cannot walk.
• No person, except handicapped persons, as indicated in the above subdivision, shall ride a bicycle upon a sidewalk in the Downtown Business District, specifically Exchange Street between Seneca to Lewis Street; Main Street between Seneca and Castle Street; Seneca Street; Castle Street between Main Street to the railroad tracks on E Castle Street; Linden Street.

Yes! Bicycles and inline skaters have to follow the same rules of the road as motor vehicles do. Bicycles and inline skaters have to go with the flow of traffic and obey all traffic control devices, such as stop signs and traffic signals. If riding at night, bicyclists must have a light on the front and rear.

All bicyclists under fourteen years of age are required to wear approved bicycle helmets whether they are the operator or passenger on a bicycle. Children under five years of age must wear an approved bicycle helmet and ride in a seat attached to the bicycle when riding as a passenger.

Please note: Children under one year old are prohibited from being transported on a bicycle.

Yes! According to Vehicle and Traffic Law, Section 1238.8: "A summons shall be issued to a parent or guardian (who is eighteen years of age or older), if the violation occurs while in the parents presence."

Yes! There is an open alcoholic beverage container law in the City of Geneva. There is also a local law prohibiting persons under 21 of possessing alcoholic beverages in a public place, whether open or not. In addition, there are state laws regulating the sale, purchase and possession of alcoholic beverages.

No! No person shall discharge any firearm, air gun, spring gun or other similar instrument within the city. In addition, no person shall carry any of the aforementioned items while loaded upon any public street or public place.

There is a littering law within the City and there is also a noise ordinance prohibiting persons of making unreasonable noise. Also there is a law against interference with city streets, which is, but not limited to, the throwing or kicking of snowballs, stones or other objects into the street, interfering with the free, safe and convenient use of the street.

Yes! By law a motorist has the responsibility to locate the owner of the animal and if unable to, notify the police.

The City of Geneva uses the Ontario County Humane Society for their animal control. Call them to see if they could help with your matter.

Yes! The City does have a leash law and it requires all dogs to be on a leash. This law also applies to Lakefront Park.

Yes! All dogs must be licensed. Also, there is a City law prohibiting nuisance dogs. There are several things that contribute to being a nuisance. They are, but not limited to, loud howling or habitual barking, habitually chasing and/or barking at persons or moving vehicles, jumping on a person or knocking them over, running together in a pack, or causing damage to another persons property. In addition, there also is a law prohibiting dangerous dogs.

No, the Police Department does not. If you need an identification card, you can check with the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles. They have an office on Seneca Street in downtown Geneva.

Yes! The Police Department does fingerprints for such things as liquor licenses, adoption, citizenship, employment, and guardianship. Fingerprinting fee is $5.00 and you must bring your own fingerprint card(s).

You need to file a report with the Police Department in the event that the accident resulted in physical injury to any of the persons involved, when the physical damage to one of the vehicles is greater than $1,000 or if one of the parties involved requests one. If the accident does not meet said criteria, a Police Officer will assist motorists in the correct exchange of license, registration and insurance information of the persons involved.

You can obtain a copy of your accident report at the Geneva Police Records office located at 255 Exchange Street in Geneva during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 4:30 pm, except on holidays. There is a fee for a copy of an accident report.

Also, you can go online to the CrashDocs website and look for The City of Geneva - to get a copy.

Fines for traffic tickets are determined by a City Court Judge and are based on several factors. Parking fines range from $20 to $75

Dispatchers are trained to get as much information as possible to determine the priority and nature of the complaint in order to send appropriate personnel and to enhance the handling of the complaint.

Generally complainants are not identified, but on some occasions, if a charge is pursued it is necessary for prosecution of the case.

• Development and regular review and appropriate updating of a public art plan that identifies appropriate spaces and mediums for collection development
• Oversee quality control of the Public Art Policy and projects
• Review and recommend Public Art Projects for approval by the Geneva City Council
• Make recommendations regarding any issues that arise from a specific artwork or art project

The Public Art Committee is composed of five members of the Geneva community (City residency not required) with an affirmative grasp of visual art concepts. These may include (but are not limited to):

• Architects
• Art education professionals
• Artists
• Graphic designers
• Landscape architects
• Etc.

Public art is defined as art owned by the City of Geneva and accessible to the citizens of Geneva in public locations. A secondary category of public art is that privately owned but publicly accessible. These artworks can be visible from the street or inside buildings open to the public. Both permanent and temporary installations of all media of art concern the committee.

A public space is a social space that is generally open and accessible to people.Roads (including the pavement and space above the street), public squares, parks and beaches are typically considered public space. Government buildings which are open to the public, such as City Hall, are public space. Privately owned buildings or property visible from sidewalks and public thoroughfares may affect the public landscape and thus become public space.

The term public art properly refers to works of art in any media that have been planned and executed with the specific intention of being sited or staged in the public space, usually accessible to all. Public art has increasingly begun to expand in scope and application - both into other wider and challenging art forms, and also across a much broader range of what might be called our public space.

City trees are planted within the City right-of-way. The right-of-way is determined by a measurement from the centerline of the roadway. Each particular street has a right-of-way distance. If you wish to confirm if a tree is within the City right-of-way, call the Engineering Department at 315-789-3101, Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.

The City of Geneva contracts with a Certified Arborist who looks at tree requests within the City right-of-way on a monthly basis. The arborist will report his findings back to the City and, if you wish, the findings can be reported to you.

Please call the City of Geneva Engineering Department Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm, at 315-789-3101.

Yes, if the tree is in the City right-of-way. Please call the City of Engineering Department Monday through Friday 8:30 am to 4:30 pm at 315-789-3101 to arrange to have the City's certified arborist look at the tree.

For 2012 to 2013, the City is planting the following trees (size): 

• Amelanchier Shadblow (small)
• Flowering Dogwood (small)
• Trident Maple (small)
• American Hornbeam (medium)
• Amur Cork Tree (medium)
• Red Horsechestnut (medium)
• London Plane Tree (large)
• Sugar Maple (large)
• Zelkova (large)

Yes, you may request a tree to be planted in the City right-of-way by calling the Engineering Department Monday through Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Your request will be placed on a waiting list and you will be notified when a tree becomes available.

Trees within the City right-of-way are removed based on the condition they are in and the risk they pose to people and property. The City's certified arborist determines the condition of a tree and recommends needed work based on his findings. The City does not necessarily remove a tree for reasons such as too close to wires and or home, roots getting in sewer, roots are lifting the sidewalk.

Repair or replacing sidewalks is the homeowner's responsibility regardless of the cause of the problems.

Many Committees are strengthened by experience, knowledge, or training in a specific area of community operations. That said, most Committee members get their start by just wanting to be involved. For this Panel, there are only four requirements:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older
• Must be a permanent resident of the City of Geneva
• Must be willing and able to attend 50% of all Panel engagements
• Must be willing and able to complete all necessary training as required for the respective Committee

Applications are available online on the City's website or at the City Clerk's Office in City Hall. From there:

• Complete the online form and submit, or complete a paper application form and submit to the City Clerk's Office
• City Council will source applications from the online database, City Clerk's Office, and political parties
• Applications will be reviewed for best matched qualifications according to City Council's objectives (subject matter expertise, ideological and cultural diversity, etc.)
• Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with City Council or will be referred to Council by the individual Committee's appointment process
• Council will select the best qualified applicants for the position available

Many Boards, Committees, and Commissions are bolstered by experience, knowledge, or training in a specific area of community operations. That said, most Board, Committee, or Commission members get their start by just wanting to be involved. For most Board, Commission, or Committee seats, there are only four qualifications:

• Must be eighteen years of age or older
• Must be a permanent resident of the City of Geneva
• Must be willing and able to attend 75% of all Board, Commission, or Committee meetings
• Must be willing and able to complete all necessary training as required for the respective Board, Commission, or Committee

Apply online for a membership to a City of Geneva Board or Commission.

From there:

1. Complete the online form and submit, or complete a paper application form and submit to the City Clerk
2. City Council will source applications from the online database, City Clerk's Office, and political parties
3. Applications will be reviewed for best matched qualifications according to City Council's objectives (subject matter expertise, ideological and cultural diversity, etc.). Several Boards generate recommendations to Council via an internal appointment committee.
4. Qualified applicants will be invited to interview with City Council or will be referred to Council by the individual Board's appointment process.
5. Council will select the best qualified applicants for the positions available The bulk of appointments occur in January of each calendar year, though some appointments are filled as vacancies occur throughout the year.

The City is making strides toward becoming a Certified Climate Smart Community. Just a few accomplishments to date include:

• Passing a resolution adopting the Climate Smart Community Pledge
• Creating a Community Climate Smart Community Task Force focused on climate mitigation and adaptation
• Developing a government operations Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions Inventory
• Conducting energy audits at municipal buildings and made recommended energy efficiency improvements
• Adopting a comprehensive plan with sustainability elements
• Participated in the development of the Seneca Lake Watershed Management Plan (PDF)
• Installed rain gardens at the lakefront to manage stormwater runoff

The City continues to explore climate smart actions that will help to reduce GHG emissions, save taxpayer dollars, and advance the City's goals for health and safety, economic vitality, energy independence, and quality of life for its residents. Review a complete list of Climate Smart Community action items.

The City thrives on innovation and has created the Civic Innovation Hub as a means of seeking out, evaluating, cultivating, and implementing good ideas. Get involved by submitting your idea through the Civic Innovation Hub!