1343.05 VACANT BUILDING FEES.

   The fees shall be reasonably related to the administrative costs for registering and processing the vacant building owner registration form and for the costs incurred by the City in monitoring the vacant building site. The annually increased fee amounts shall be reasonably related to the costs incurred by the City for demolition and hazard abatement of or repairs to vacant buildings, as well as the continued normal administrative costs stated above.

   (a)   The owner of a vacant residential building shall pay an annual fee of one hundred fifty dollars ($150.00) for the first year the building remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the building remains vacant, the annual fee will be assessed at double the previous year's fee amount for a maximum annual fee equaling the five-year fee of two thousand four hundred dollars ($2,400.00) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.

   (b)   The owner of a vacant commercial building shall pay an annual fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for the first year the building remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the building remains vacant, the annual fee will be assessed at double the previous year's fee amount for a maximum annual fee equaling the five-year fee of four thousand eight hundred dollars ($4,800.00) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.

   (c)   The first annual fee shall be paid at the time the building is registered. If the fee is not paid, the owner shall be subject to prosecution as prescribed in Section 1343.08 of this Chapter.

   (d)   The fee shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of any building permits unless the property owner is granted an exemption.

   (e)   All delinquent fees shall be paid by the owner prior to any transfer of an ownership interest in the vacant building. A hold may be placed on the activation of utilities (water, sewer and electric) until all delinquent fees have been paid.

   (f)   Late fees shall be paid in addition to the annual registration fee and will be equal to one-half of the respective annual fee for the vacant residential, commercial or industrial property. (Ord. 71-22. Passed 12-19-22.)