(a) General penalty. The failure or refusal for any reason of any owner, or agent of an owner acting on behalf of the owner, to register a vacant house or building or to pay any fees required to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this section, within 30 days after they become due, shall be a first degree misdemeanor punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine in the amount of not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 per violation, and shall be also punishable with up to six months in jail Each day shall count as a separate violation. Whenever the minimum fine of $500 is imposed, it shall not be subject to suspension or reduction for any reason.
(b) Renewal fee. The fee for renewal of a vacated building maintenance license to be determined by the scale in § 1382.07 shall be paid at the time of application for renewal and deposited in the Building Hazard Abatement Fund. A renewal license shall expire on the annual renewal date. The annual renewal date shall be December 31 of each year.
(c) Late fee. In addition to the amount assessed for the vacated building maintenance license, the Chief Building Official shall charge a late fee equal to the license or renewal fee or $1,000, whichever is less, if the owner fails to obtain a vacated building maintenance license within the time provided by §§ 1382.04 and 1382.07 or if the owner fails to apply for renewal of a vacated building maintenance license before the annual renewal date. Unpaid late fees shall be considered a debt collectible pursuant to § 1382.12.
(d) Refund. The Mayor shall refund the fees for a vacated building maintenance license paid if the subject building is brought into compliance with the standards of Chapter 1382 and reoccupied within one year of payment of the application fee.
(Ord. 15-09, passed 6-2-2009)