(A) The owner of a vacant building shall apply to the Albuquerque Code Enforcement for and obtain a vacant building maintenance license 15 days prior to vacating the premises. The vacant building maintenance license shall be renewed annually. The owner shall pay an annual fee to renew the vacant building maintenance license. Albuquerque Code Enforcement shall establish the amount of the fee by regulation.
(B) Application for a vacant building maintenance license shall be made on a form provided by Albuquerque Code Enforcement and verified by the owner. The application shall disclose all measures to be taken to ensure that the vacant building will be kept weather tight and secure from trespassers, safe for entry by police officers and firefighters in times of emergency, and, together with its premises, free from nuisance and in good order.
The registration form shall include and be updated with the following information:
(1) Name, address, telephone number and email of the property owner and/or responsible party;
(2) Name, address, telephone number and email of a local agent for the owner, if the owner is not a resident of Bernalillo County;
(3) Name, local address and telephone number and email of a property manager, if any;
(4) Street address, parcel number and legal description of the property;
(5) Any known fines and/or liabilities being assessed against the property.
(6) A 24-hours emergency telephone number where the owner, agent, property manager or responsible party can be reached.
(C) At the time of application, the owner, his or her agent and/or the responsible party shall arrange for inspection of the vacant building by Albuquerque Code Enforcement. If the owner fails or refuses to consent to and arrange for an inspection, Albuquerque Code Enforcement may obtain a search warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction to authorize inspection of the vacant building, if it is deemed necessary for public health and safety.
(D) Albuquerque Code Enforcement shall inspect the vacant building for the purpose of determining the structural integrity of the vacant building; the repairs necessary to ensure its structural integrity; that it will be safe for entry by fire fighters and police officers in time of emergency; and that the vacant building and its contents do not present a hazard to the public during the time that the building remains vacant.
(E) Albuquerque Code Enforcement shall issue any orders for work needed to:
(1) Adequately protect the vacant building from intrusion by trespassers and from deterioration by the weather; and
(2) Insure that allowing the vacant building to remain will not be detrimental to the public health, safety and welfare, will not unreasonably interfere with the reasonable and lawful use and enjoyment of other premises within the neighborhood, and will not pose any extraordinary hazard to police officers or fire fighters entering the vacant building in times of emergency.
(F) Within 45 days of the issuance of any orders, the owner shall bring the vacant building into compliance with any orders that may have been issued as conditions for the issuance of the license.
(G) Albuquerque Code Enforcement shall issue a vacant building maintenance license only after inspecting the building and concluding that the building complies with the Uniform Housing Code. The Department is authorized to administer and enforce the Uniform Housing Code as provided in §§ 14-3-5-1 et seq. if the vacant building does not comply with any other provisions of the Uniform Housing Code. Albuquerque Code Enforcement shall have the authority to inspect the vacant building at any time.
(H) The owner shall notify Albuquerque Code Enforcement 15 days before a vacant building becomes inhabited so that Albuquerque Code Enforcement can inspect the vacant building prior to occupancy.
(Ord. 45A-2004; Am. Ord. 2018-025)