(a) The purpose of this Chapter is to establish a vacant property registration program and to further regulate the maintenance of properties which are in the foreclosure process, abandoned or vacant. This Chapter is intended to reduce and prevent neighborhood blight, to avoid the creation and continuance of public nuisances, to ameliorate conditions that threaten the public health, safety and welfare, to promote neighborhood stability and occupancy by preserving the condition and appearance of residential properties and the worth and activity of commercial and industrial properties, and to maintain property values and assessments.
(b) There is hereby adopted, then, for the aforementioned purposes and for the purpose of providing a means of identifying the owner and/or responsible entities of vacant and/or abandoned properties within the corporate limits of the City of Martins Ferry having complete contact information on record for these properties and responsible parties, a registration and maintenance requirement for vacant and/or abandoned properties.
(c) Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to waive, relieve or otherwise excuse an owner of property from compliance with all applicable codes, ordinances, statutes or laws and the owner shall at all times remain responsible and liable therefore. Nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to prevent the enforcement of other provisions of the Codified Ordinances of the City of Martins Ferry or the Ohio Revised Code; and nothing in this Chapter shall be construed to relieve an owner or interested party from duties imposed pursuant to any regulatory code, ordinance, statute, or law of the City of Martins Ferry or the State of Ohio.
(Ord. 2015-17. Passed 11-5-15.)