(a) To sell, transfer, or convey any interest in a residential vacant property, or enter into an agreement regarding the same, shall require a vacant building inspection that has occurred within one (1) year of the sale date. In the event of resale within the one (1) year period, the vacant building inspection report shall be transferred to any subsequent bona fide purchaser and shall be valid for the remainder of that period.
(b) Prior to selling, transferring, or conveying any interest in or entering into an agreement to sell, transfer or otherwise convey an interest in any vacant residential property, the Responsible Party shall provide a copy of a vacant building inspection that has occurred within one (1) year of the proposed sale date to the prospective purchaser or title transferee prior to conveyance of the title.
(c) An agreement to sell, transfer or otherwise convey an interest in a vacant building shall include a copy of the vacant building inspection from the Director.
(d) Following transfer, the Responsible Party, with the exception of a Responsible Party that is a Governmental Entity, shall correct all code violations at the vacant property and bring the property into compliance with Section 365.04 within six (6) months of transfer or, if the Director determines that the condition of the property poses a threat to health and safety such that it should be corrected within a lesser time, within a lesser time established by the Director. Failure to do so shall be a violation of Section 3103.25(e).
(1) The Responsible Party may request from the Director an extension of time to correct the code violations. Such a request shall be made at least thirty (30) days before the end of the Responsible Party’s time to comply, and the request shall be made on a form provided by the Director. No single extension may be for more than six (6) months. Responsible Parties may request multiple extensions.
(2) The Director shall approve such a request for an extension so long as the request for an extension is reasonable, the buyer has made substantial progress in correcting the violations, and issuing an extension is in the best interests of the City. If such an extension is approved, then failure to make the corrections within the extended time shall be a violation of Section 3103.25(e).
(3) The Responsible Party may appeal any decision by the Director under this section to the Board of Zoning Appeals, in writing within ten (10) days from the date of the Director’s issuance of the decision. The Board may sustain, disapprove, or modify the Director’s action, and the Board’s decision shall be final.
(Ord. No. 388-2024. Passed 4-1-24, eff. 4-3-24)
Note: Pursuant to Section 3106.10, this section is effective on August 6, 2024, and shall expire on February 6, 2026.