(A) If the City Council shall have adopted an ordinance, or the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall have issued an order, ordering a dwelling to be repaired, altered or improved or vacated and closed, as provided in section 9-1-111, and if the owner has vacated and closed the dwelling and kept the dwelling vacated and closed for a period of six months pursuant to the ordinance or order, then if the City Council shall find that the owner has abandoned the intent and purpose to repair, alter or improve the dwelling in order to render it fit for human habitation and that the continuation of the dwelling in its vacated and closed status would be inimical to the health, safety, morals and welfare of the city in that the building or structure would continue to deteriorate, would create a fire and safety hazard, would be a threat to children and vagrants, would attract persons intent on criminal activities, would cause or contribute to blight and the deterioration of property values in the area, and would render unavailable property and a dwelling which might otherwise have been made available to ease the persistent shortage of decent and affordable housing in this state, then in such circumstances, the City Council may, after the expiration of the six-month period, enact an ordinance and serve the ordinance on the owner, setting forth the following:
(1) If it is determined that the repair of the dwelling to render it fit for human habitation can be made at a cost not exceeding 50% of the then current value of the dwelling, the ordinance shall require that the owner either repair, alter or improve, or demolish and remove the dwelling within 90 days; or
(2) If it is determined that the repair of the dwelling to render it fit for human habitation cannot be made at a cost not exceeding 50% of the then current value of the dwelling, the ordinance shall require that the owner demolish and remove the dwelling within 90 days.
(B) An ordinance adopted pursuant to this section shall be recorded in the office of the Register of Deeds of Pitt County and shall be indexed in the name of the property owner in the grantor index. If the owner fails to comply with that ordinance, the Code Enforcement Supervisor or officer shall effectuate the purpose of the ordinance. The cost to repair, alter, or improve, or demolish and remove the dwelling shall be a lien against the real property upon which the cost was incurred. The lien shall be filed, have priority and be collected in the same manner as the lien for special assessments established by G.S. Chapter 160A, Article 10.
(Ord. No. 23-082, § 1, passed 12-14-2023)