1507.05 REGISTRATION FEES.
The fees imposed by this Chapter may be reasonably related to: (i) the City’s administrative costs related to registering and processing the Vacant Property Registration Form; (ii) the costs incurred by the City in monitoring the Vacant Property; (iii) the City’s costs to secure the Vacant Property; and (iv) the demolition, hazard abatement and repair costs the City incurs with respect to the Vacant Property. The progressive fee structure, set forth in subsection (a) below, for properties that continue to be vacant year-to-year is reasonably related to the progressive increase in the aforementioned costs the City incurs for properties which are continuously vacant over consecutive years.
(a) The Owner of a Vacant Commercial or Industrial Property shall pay an annual fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the first year the property remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the property remains vacant, the annual registration fee shall be assessed at double the previous year's registration fee amount up to a maximum annual registration fee equaling the five (5) year registration fee of six thousand four hundred dollars ($6,400.00), which shall be the registration fee for the fifth and all subsequent years of vacancy. The registration fee is based on the duration of time the property has been vacant, regardless of a change in ownership.
(b) The Owner of a Vacant Residential Property shall pay an annual fee of two hundred dollars ($200) for the first year the property remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the property remains vacant, the annual registration fee shall be assessed at double the previous year’s registration fee amount up to a maximum annual registration fee equaling the five (5) year registration fee of three thousand two hundred dollars ($3,200.00) which shall be the registration fee for the fifth and all subsequent years of vacancy. The registration fee is based on the duration of time the property has been vacant, regardless of a change in ownership.
(c) The first annual fee shall be paid at the time the Vacant Property is registered. If the fee is not paid, the owner shall be subject to application penalties, as outlined in Section 1507.99 of this Chapter.
(d) The fee shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of any building permits unless the Vacant Property is granted an exemption pursuant to Section 1507.07 of this Chapter.
(e) The fee shall be prorated by day and a refund may be issued as set forth in Section 1507.06 of this chapter if the Vacant Property is no longer deemed vacant under the provisions of this Chapter.
(f) All delinquent fees shall be paid by the Owner prior to any transfer of ownership over the Vacant Property.
(g) All delinquent fees shall be paid in full prior to transfer or connection of any and all City utilities.
(h) Late fees shall be paid in addition to the annual registration fee and will be equal to one-fourth of the applicable annual fee.
(i) Fees incurred prior to the enactment of this Chapter will be assessed pursuant to the ordinance then in effect at the time the fees were incurred.
If an Owner or Person in Control of a Vacant Property fails, neglects or refuses to pay a registration fee within the time ordered pursuant to this section, the designated administrator of the registry shall notify the Finance Director. The Finance Director shall certify the registration fee to the County Auditor who shall place the costs as a charge upon the tax list and duplicate to be paid as a special assessment on the Vacant Property. In addition to the registration fee, an interest rate equal to the current rate of interest charged by the City on special assessments shall be imposed by the City for the life of the registration fee and collected as provided in this section.
(Ord. 2021-4-24. Passed 4-14-21.)