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Contact
2378 Elmwood Avenue
Kenmore, New York 14217
Phone: (716) 875-0527
Fax: (716) 447-0256
Hours
7:00 AM – 3:00 PM, M-F
Excluding Legal Holidays
Street Light Outage?
Week of 10/12/26 - BLUE Recycle. Trash and Recycle collection will be delayed 1 day all week. School Taxes are due 10/15. The Village is currently seeking applications for a Full-Time Code Enforcement Officer and a Part-Time Electrical Inspector. For more information, please see the Employment page.
The Department of Public Works maintains the Village’s streets, including road repair, repaving, street cleaning and snow removal. In addition, the Department inspects and repairs the Village water lines, performs tree trimming and removal, and maintains street signs. Garbage and recycling pick-up is also performed by this Department.
STREET LIGHTING
Please report Streetlight outages here. You may also report them directly to the DPW (716) 875-527 or to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office (716) 873-5700. You can also email either office.
DON’T CONTACT NATIONAL GRID as it is not responsible for streetlight outages on Village streets.
GROUND MARKINGS
Whenever a project will be taking place that requires digging, utility companies are required to mark its lines. The Village will mark water lines. Here are what the different colored markings represent:
- Red- Electric
- Yellow- Gas
- Blue- Water
- Green- Sewer
- Orange- Telephone/Internet
- White- Marks area of concern/Work area
HIGH WINDS (over 60 mph)
Don’t put totes to the curb. If totes are at the curb, be sure to return them from the curb as soon as possible. Make sure the lids are closed.
David Root
Superintendent of Public Works
droot@kenmoreny.gov
James Scholl
Assistant Superintendent of Public Works
jscholl@kenmoreny.gov
WATER LEAKS & OTHER WATER-RELATED PROBLEMS
If you are experiencing low water pressure or back up of water, please contact the Department of Public Works between 7 AM and 3 PM. If a water problem occurs after regular office hours, please contact the Kenmore Police Department (716) 875-1234. The Village will inspect to ascertain whether the problem is attributed to a Village line or if the problem must be corrected by the property owner.
Winter Information
SNOW
It’s a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Safety Law, Section 1219 to place snow into the road. This is also a violation of the Kenmore Municipal Code. Don’t shovel or plow snow into the road.
SIDEWALKS
Property owners are responsible for the maintenance or the sidewalk in front of their property. This includes snow and ice removal. If you have a plowing service, please make sure they remove the snow adjacent to the driveway as part of their service. You can receive a violation notice if your sidewalk is not free of snow and ice.
FIRE HYDRANTS
Please clear snow around any fire hydrant. In an emergency, this will save valuable time.
PARKING BAN
November 15 – March 15.
The Ban is not based on the weather. No parking on Village Streets 2 AM – 6 AM, unless otherwise directed.
Fall/ Autumn Information
LEAVES
It’s a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Safety Law, Section 1220 to place leaves into the road. This is also a violation of the Kenmore Municipal Code.
Leaves can be placed in open containers, your tote or clear plastic bags.
LEAF PICKUP
As an added service, the Village DPW will collect leaves during the fall, before the snow comes. To take advantage of this service, please rake your leaves onto the Right of Way (ROW) – the area between the curb and the sidewalk. Do NOT rake leaves into the street as this can cause flooding. The DPW generally starts leaf collection in mid-October. Once leaf collection has started, you can also place leaves onto the grass area between the curb and sidewalk for pick up. Leaf Collection generally ends in December.
GARBAGE GENERAL INFORMATION
All Village properties are required to utilize standardized, approved 95 gallon trash and 65 gallon recycle totes. Single family homes are required to have at least 1 refuse tote and doubles are required to have two, whether or not one or both units are vacant. Lids must remain closed.
Lids must be closed at all times.
GARBAGE AND WHITES PICKUP (appliances and large items) takes place once a week on your assigned garbage day.
MATTRESSES – Mattresses must be wrapped and sealed before placed out for collection. Unwrapped mattresses will not be collected.
WHEN DO I PLACE MY TOTES OUT FOR COLLECTION
Residential Garbage and recyclables are to be placed at the curb no later than 7 AM on the morning of collection and no earlier than 4 PM on the day before garbage pickup.
Commercial Garbage is placed at the curb no later than 9 AM on the day of collection and no earlier than 6 AM of the scheduled pickup day.
Violators will be ticketed if garbage or recyclables are not placed to the curb in accord with these rules. If you need to place garbage or recyclables out to the curb in advance of these required time frames, you will need to contact the Department of Public Works as soon as possible.
Totes can be placed in the Right of Way (ROW) – the area between the curb and the sidewalk – on your pick up/collection day only. Once picked up, your totes need to be removed from the ROW. Don’t place totes in the street.
ELECTRONIC WASTE (e-Waste) Information
THE VILLAGE DOES NOT COLLECT ELECTRONIC WASTE
Residents can dispose of e-waste at county-sponsored collection sites or at the store where the item was purchased.
What’s E-waste?
E-waste includes computers, printers, copiers, monitors, keyboards, speakers, mice, cables, TVs, VCRs, UPSs, power surge strips, scanners, digital cameras, MP3 players and software.
Residents can dispose of these items at County-sponsored collection sites or at the store where the item was purchased.
GRASS CLIPPINGS & LEAVES
It’s a violation of New York State Vehicle and Traffic Safety Law, Section 1220 to mow or place grass clippings or leaves into the road. Please place your grass clippings in clear plastic bags and place in your tote for trash collection.
OTHER OBJECTS
Free-standing basketball nets, totes and other objects placed near or on the road pose safety risks, including traffic hazards, instability (especially in high winds) and injury from tipping over.
Under NYS Highway Law, Section 319, objects placed in the street or in the ROW can be considered an obstruction, as they can impede the DPW’s ability to properly and efficiently maintain the road.
HOLIDAY PICK-UP SCHEDULE
The Department of Public Works will not be picking up trash (garbage or recyclables) on the following days:
- New Year’s Day
- Martin Luther King Jr. Day
- President’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Columbus Day/Indigenous Peoples Day
- Veteran’s Day *
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
* If Veterans Day falls on a FRIDAY, trash collection will NOT change. Please leave your trash out on your regular pick-up day.
If your trash day falls on one of these days, your trash pickup will be delayed by one day*. For example, if one of the above days falls on Wednesday and your trash pickup day is Wednesday, then your trash will be picked up on Thursday. In addition, the trash collection for the days following that day, will also be delayed by one day. Again, using the example above, Thursday trash collection will be on Friday and Friday pick up will take place on Saturday.
When trash collection falls on one of the “Monday Holidays” listed, trash collection will be delayed one day throughout the week.
PLEASE NOTE: The Village collects trash on Good Friday.
Recycle Information
The Village requires that you place all of your recyclables into a Village issued Recycle Tote.
Recycle collection takes place every other week, on your regular collection day, using a Recycle Tote.
Please note: We cannot collect any trash that is placed in your recycle tote. Only place recyclables in your Recycle Tote.
Pickup will depend on where your street is located, either blue zone or yellow zone. While trash will be picked up every week, recycle collection will be on your trash collection day, but alternating weeks depending on whether your street is located in the blue or yellow zone.
DO NOT place any trash/garbage inside the Recycle Tote. We will be unable to collect trash from a Recycle tote and we cannot collect recyclables which are co-mingled with garbage.
The Village no longer accepts recyclables from a blue bin. These bins are recyclable and can be placed next to your recycle tote for collection, or you can keep the bin for your own use.
EAST GIRARD residents – your recycle zone is now YELLOW.
Tote Replacement Information
REFUSE/GARBAGE TOTES. Additional or replacement refuse totes can be purchased for a cost of $60/unit (both 60 gallon and 95 gallon size). Totes must be paid for before delivery. Checks will be made payable to “the Village of Kenmore” and delivered to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office. Be sure to notate your property address and “GARBAGE Tote” on your check. Once payment is made, a tote will be delivered to your address within 5 business days.
RECYCLE TOTES. If you would like an additional or replacement recycle tote, the cost is $50/unit. Recycle totes must be paid for before delivery. Checks will be made payable to the “Village of Kenmore” and delivered to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office. Be sure to notate your property address and “RECYCLE Tote” on your check. Once payment is made, the Recycle Tote will be delivered to your address within 5 business days.
RATS/Rodent Control Information
If you see a rat, immediately contact the Building Department (716/873-5700). A Code Enforcement Officer will be happy to look at your property to confirm the presence of rats on your property, and/or possible habitats or food sources. The Village of Kenmore does not bait properties, nor do we have authority to enter onto private property without the consent of the owner or other person residing on that property. Therefore, if rats are suspected, the Village will contact the Erie County Health Department which has this authorization.
You may also contact the Erie County Department of Health directly at (716/961-6800).
Please be aware that, during dry spells, rats become bold as they search for water. You are more likely to see rats out during periods of high temperature and little rain. If you run your sprinkler, be careful not to let water pool on the concrete as this will attract rodents.
Rodent Prevention Steps
- KEEP THE LID CLOSED. This simple step will eliminate access to your garbage (a primary rodent food source).
- PICK UP AFTER YOUR PET. Pick up any animal waste in your yard. This is also a food source for rats.
- RAISE ANY WOOD PILES OFF THE GROUND. Rats like to live in wood piles.
- SKIP THE BIRDSEED! Bird seed (and bread) spills over onto the ground attracting rats. Please note that under Erie County and Village law, bird feeders can only be used which are designed to prevent seed from dropping out of the feeder. Ground feeding of animals is not allowed.
- CUT DOWN WEEDS. Overgrowth of weeds is a prime harbor for rats. Please cut down weeds located on your property. Typical problem areas include that space behind your garage and around/between fences.
- DON’T ALLOW WATER TO POOL/COLLECT, especially during dry spells. Rats are looking for water sources and a puddle area on your driveway or patio will attract them. Do not leave out water for your pets or for birds, as this will attract rats, too.
- LET US KNOW IF YOU SEE ANY RATS. Or if you observe your neighbors violating any of the above steps. While the Village cannot bait, we may be able to help identify the source location of the rats and will send out literature to advise your neighbors to the problem and to remind them of steps needing to be taken to get rid of the problem.
- GARDENS/FRUIT TREES. Raised gardens are harder for rats to access. Please pick up any dropped fruit and vegetables as soon as possible.
If You See A Rat:
- Call the Erie County Department of Health (716/961-6800). The County can bait your property.
- Call the Building Department (716/873-5700). We will inspect the property to see if we can locate the source of the rats. In addition, we can send out literature to your neighbors to let them know that there has been a rat sighting and what steps they can do to help eliminate the presence of rats in your vicinity.
Rat problems have plagued many Western New York communities, including Kenmore. The Village of Kenmore was one of the first to address this problem through the introduction of standardized refuse totes. You can help to rid our community of rats by keeping your refuse tote lid tightly closed. In addition this helps to keep trash dry which reduces the cost of garbage collection and dumping. Garbage is a prime food source for rats, so please keep your refuse tote lid closed! You can also help eliminate rodent food sources by not using bird feeders, promptly picking up animal waste and by removing wood piles and other shelter areas for rats.
Working together we can make Kenmore safer and cleaner!
WHO’S RESPONSIBLE?
Sidewalks – The property owner is responsible for the maintenance and repair of sidewalks in front of the property. This includes snow and ice removal.
Streets – Street maintenance/repair depends on the government.
- Kenmore Road Jurisdiction Map
- New York State Roads – Delaware Avenue and Military are under the control of the New York State Department of Transportation (NYS DOT)
- Erie County Roads – Colvin, Elmwood and the south side of Kenmore Avenue are under the control of Erie County Highway Department (ECHD)
- All other roads in Kenmore – Maintenance and repair is with the Village of Kenmore Department of Public Works (DPW).
Street Lights – Please report Streetlight outages here. You may also report them directly to the DPW (716) 875-0527 or to the Clerk/Treasurer’s Office (716) 873-5700. You can also email either office. Don’t contact National Grid.
Trees – this depends on where the tree is located
- Back yard – Property Owner
- Front yard (up to the sidewalk) – Property Owner
- Front yard (area between the curb and sidewalk) – Municipality
- If the tree is located on a County Road – please contact the Erie County Highway Department
- If the tree is located on a State Road – please contact the NYS DOT
- If the tree is located on a Village road – please contact the Kenmore DPW
- If you’re having an issue with a neighbor’s tree encroaching on your property, you’ll need to contact your attorney as this is a civil matter.