The City Council finds as follows: Vacant buildings are a major cause and source of blight in residential and nonresidential neighborhoods, especially when the owner of the building fails to actively maintain and manage the building to ensure that it does not become a liability to the neighborhood. Vacant buildings, substandard or unkempt buildings, and long-term vacancies discourage economic development and dampen the appreciation of property values. Vacant buildings are potential fire hazards that can jeopardize the ability of owners of neighboring property to secure or maintain affordable fire insurance. It is the responsibility of property ownership to prevent owned property from becoming a burden to the neighborhood and community and a threat to the public health, safety, or welfare. One vacant building that is not actively maintained and managed can be the cause of spreading blight. Vacant buildings are also a potential source of much needed housing, and the City Council encourages property owners to return vacant buildings to useful purposes whenever possible. It is the purpose and intent of the City Council, through the adoption of this ordinance, to define the responsibilities of owners of, and to establish registration and monitoring programs for, vacant commercial, industrial and residential buildings and properties.
(Ord. 956-C.S., passed 7-3-24)