(a) Vacant building registration fees shall be reasonably related to the administrative costs of the vacant building registration process, to the costs incurred by the Village in monitoring the vacant building site, and/or to a reasonable and minimum annual rental amount that might be derived from the vacant building if it were occupied under lease. The annual increases in registration fee amounts shall be, in part, reasonably related to the costs incurred by the Village for hazard abatement, repair, and/or demolition of vacant buildings in addition to the continued administrative costs. All money collected under this chapter shall be used exclusively for the administration and enforcement of this chapter, for payment of a Zoning/Building Inspector, and for demolition costs of any property condemned by the Village under the Codified Ordinances of the Village, and for no other purposes.
(b) The annual registration fee for vacant buildings shall also be based on the duration of time the building has been vacant, regardless of any change in ownership.
(1) The owner of a vacant residential building shall pay an annual fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) 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 three thousand two hundred dollars ($3,200) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(2) The owner of a vacant commercial building shall pay an annual fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the first year the building remain 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 six thousand four hundred dollars ($6,400) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(c) The owner of a vacant industrial building shall pay an annual fee of six hundred dollars ($600.00). 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 nine thousand six hundred dollars ($9,600) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(d) The fee shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of any building permits, unless the property is granted an exemption. The fee shall be prorated and a refund may be issued if the building is no longer deemed vacant under the provisions of this chapter within 180 days of its registry.
(e) All delinquent fees shall be paid by the owner prior to any transfer of an ownership interest in the vacant building. A lien may be placed on the property to collect delinquent fees. A hold may be placed on the transfer or activation of utilities (water and electric) until all delinquent fees are paid.
(f) Late fees shall be paid in addition to the annual registration and will be equal to the annual fee or one thousand dollars ($1,000), whichever is less.
(g) All liens and delinquent fees shall be assessed and collected in accordance with the Ordinances of the Village of East Palestine, Ohio, and R.C. § 715.261.
(h) Any vacant structure lawfully registered, and in compliance with the previous version of this Chapter 1246 or registered before the effective date of this chapter, shall continue to be lawfully registered until December 31, 2022. After December 31, 2022, all vacant structures shall be subject to the provisions of this amended Chapter 1246.
(i) Upon failure of a responsible party to pay the required registration fees, and after the time limit for appeal has expired, or after all appeals have been finally resolved, fees in accordance with this provision shall be enforced by the Zoning/Building Inspector may make a return of any labor costs and any registration fees due, to the Columbiana County Auditor of such total charges, which amount shall be entered upon the tax duplicates of the county and be allocated and assessed onto the taxes in accordance with R.C. § 731.54, or an affidavit of lien may be filed in the Office of the Recorder of Columbiana County, Ohio, which affidavit shall include a legal description of the premises upon which the vacant structure is situated.
(Ord. 2019-19. Passed 2-24-20; Ord. 14-2022. Passed 9-12-22.)