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The fees shall be reasonably related to the administration costs for registering and processing the vacant building owner registration form and for the costs incurred by the city in monitoring the vacant building site. The annually increased fee amounts shall be reasonably related to the costs incurred by the city for demolition and hazard abatement of or repairs to vacant buildings, as well as the continued normal administrative costs stated above.
(a) 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.
(b) The owner of a vacant commercial building shall pay an annual fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) 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 six thousand four hundred dollars ($6,400) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(c) The first annual fee shall be paid at the time the building is registered. If the fee is not paid, the owner shall be subject to prosecution as prescribed in § 1484.07.
(d) 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.
(e) 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.
(Ord. 18-55, passed 10-25-2018)
(a) A building under active construction/ renovation and having a valid building permit(s) shall be exempt from registration until the expiration of the longest running, currently active building permit but no longer than one year from the date issued.
(b) A building which has suffered fire damage or damage caused by extreme weather conditions shall be exempt from the registration requirements for a period of 90 days after the date of the fire or extreme weather event if the property owner submits a request for exemption in writing to the Public Service Department. This request shall include the names and addresses of the owner and a statement of intent to repair and repair and reoccupy the building in an expedient manner or the intent to demolish the building.
(c) A building that is for sale and listed with a licensed State of Ohio realtor shall be exempted for a period of 12 months from the start of vacancy, provided that the owner submits proof to the Public Service Department of listing and sale status.
(d) A building that has been granted an exemption pursuant to the following. Any owner of a vacant building may request an exemption from the provisions of this chapter by filing a written application with the Public Service Department who shall timely consider same. In determining whether a request for exemption should be granted, the Director shall consider the following: the applicant's prior record as it pertains to City Fire Code, Building Code, or Property Maintenance Code violations; the amount of vacant property the applicant currently has within the city; and the length of time that the building for which the exception is sought has been vacant.
(e) Any building or structure acquired by the Lawrence County Land Reutilization Corporation for the purpose of demolition or rehabilitation shall be exempt from registration and any fees set forth in § 1484.06.
(Ord. 18-55, passed 10-25-2018)
Any and all properties that are required to be registered as a vacant residential or vacant commercial building pursuant to this chapter, shall within 30 days of the building being listed on the vacant property registry, the city shall post a sign affixed to the building, indicating the name, address, and if known, the telephone number of the building owner. The size of the sign shall be no less than 12" by 12" but shall otherwise be created under the direction of the Director of Public Works or his or her designee. The sign shall remain in place as public notice of the ownership of the building until such time as it is removed from the vacant building registry or it is demolished. If the ownership of the building changes hands, the sign shall be amended to contain the correct ownership information. Every property upon which such sign is posted shall be assessed a fee of two hundred fifty dollars ($250.00), to be invoiced with the next vacant building registry invoice to cover the cost of posting the sign.
(Ord. 20-13, passed 3-12-2020)
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