(a) The owner of a vacant structure shall pay an annual monitoring fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) per structure for the first year that the structure is vacant. The fee will increase to five hundred dollars ($500.00 for the second year and one thousand dollars ($1,000) per year thereafter until the structure is no longer vacant or the structure qualifies for exemption. The first annual fee shall be paid at the time the property is registered and thereafter on or before each subsequent calendar year (365 days) from that date if the structure remains vacant. If the fee is not paid, the owner shall be subject to late fees as set out below and legal action including, but not limited to, the filing of a lien against the property and civil actions to collect the monitoring fee, late fees and any costs associated therewith.
(b) The fee, and any late fees, shall be paid in full prior to the issuance of any permits.
(c) All delinquent fees shall be paid by the owner prior to transfer of ownership interest in the vacant property. A lien may be placed on the property by the City to collect delinquent fees. A hold may be placed on the transfer or activation of city utilities until all delinquent fees have been paid.
(d) Late fees shall be paid in addition to annual monitoring fee and will be equal to the current annual monitoring fee if delinquent over thirty (30) days.
(Ord. 201201-63. Passed 12-1-20.)