For the purpose of this chapter, words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
(a) "Vacant building" shall be defined for the purposes of this section, as a building which is not occupied by its owner, lessee or other person in lawful possession, or at which substantially all lawful business operations or residential occupancy has ceased, or which is substantially devoid of content.
(1) A property that is temporarily unoccupied and is in the process of being renovated under proper and unexpired permits shall not be considered vacant. A property that is for lease is not considered vacant so long as the period between tenants is not more than forty-five (45) days.
(2) A property that is listed for sale, with a licensed realtor under a fully executed agreement shall not be considered vacant for the first six months of the listing agreement under which the property was first listed for sale. Such property shall be considered vacant for purposes of the Section upon the expiration of the first six month period for which it is first listed for sale or upon a subsequent re-listing with the same or a different licensed realtor. Unoccupied property listed as "For Sale by Owner" shall be considered vacant for purposes of this Section.
(b) "Owner" shall be defined as the record holder of title as identified by the records of the Auditor of the County in which the real estate parcel is situated, a vendee in possession, administrator, executor, trustee, agent, holder of an equitable interest in the property; and, in the event an action for foreclosure is filed, the plaintiff of that action.
(Ord. 2015-08. Passed 4-21-15.)
(Ord. 2015-08. Passed 4-21-15.)