(A) The Office of the City Clerk shall maintain a registry of all unoccupied properties within the city.
(B) An owner or controller of unoccupied property shall register the property with the City Clerk within 60 days of transfer of title to the property to the name of the new owner. If the title was transferred prior to the effective date of this subchapter, the owner or controller of the property shall register the property with the City Clerk no later than 60 days after the effective date of this subchapter.
(C) To register unoccupied property, the owner or controller shall:
(1) Complete and file with the City Clerk a registration application for each unoccupied property, which shall state or have attached, as applicable:
(a) The name, date of birth, driver's license number, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and webpage address of the owner and of any controller of the property. If the owner of the property resides out-of-state, the applicant shall designate a local agent by name, mailing address, telephone number, email address, and webpage address.
(b) A copy of the written agreement appointing a local agent or controller for the owner.
(c) A statement describing the expected period of vacancy, a detailed plan for the regular maintenance of the property during the period of vacancy (for example, lawn maintenance and securing of any structures), and a timeline for the lawful re-occupancy of the property, the rehabilitation of the property, or the demolition of the dwelling and/or structure(s) on the property.
(2) Pay in full the registration fees, as well as any applicable late fees, owed to the city for each unoccupied property.
(3) Provide a copy of a current certificate of compliance to the City Clerk, where such is required pursuant to § 151.115.
(4) Pay in full any property taxes and other city debts due and owing on the property.
(D) (1) Upon the City Clerk's receipt of the completed registration application and applicable fees, the City Clerk shall verify whether the property is eligible for registration and, if so, shall register the property.
(2) If the property is not eligible for registration, the City Clerk shall inform the owner or controller of the deficiencies preventing registration, including what additional information, documentation, and/or fees are required.
(E) Any change in the information provided in the registry, including but not limited to a change in ownership, change in vacancy status, or a change in contact information for the owner, controller, and/or local agent shall be provided in writing to the City Clerk within 30 days of the date of the change.
(F) Unoccupied property may not be occupied until all outstanding taxes, costs, assessments, and/or liens owed to the city have been paid in full and a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the city.
(G) Exceptions.
(1) Unoccupied properties owned by governmental subdivisions/agencies need not be registered in accordance with this chapter.
(2) An owner or controller of unoccupied property shall be exempt from registration under this section for the first 12 months following the owner's purchase of the property so long as the owner is actively working to rehabilitate the property for use and occupancy. Such rehabilitation shall be evidenced by the owner or controller obtaining the necessary permits for structural, electrical, mechanical, or similar work. It shall be the responsibility of the owner or controller to provide evidence supporting their right to this exemption from registration to the City Clerk.
(Prior Code, § 151.099) (Ord. O-151, passed 9-23-2013, effective 10-3-2013; Ord. O-160, passed 4-20-2015, effective 4-30-2015; Ord. O-209, passed 4-1-2019, effective 4-11-2019; Ord. O-212, passed 8-19-2019, effective 8-29-2019)