(a) The owner, lessee, or party in control of any vacant building, or a party that has filed and is currently maintaining an open foreclosure action regarding a vacant building shall maintain the vacant building in compliance with City codes, with particular attention to the following:
(1) Grass and weeds shall be kept at a maximum height of six inches. Shrubbery must be kept trimmed and neat and kept from encroaching on or touching the building.
(2) All building exteriors shall have adequate weather-tight protection, including paint, siding, and or similar finishes maintained in good condition.
(3) All buildings and grounds must be secured against trespassers and rodents. This includes maintaining all exterior doors, windows and yard fencing in a good and secured condition. No boards, plywood or similar means or materials may be used to secure windows and doors. Doors, and/or windows that are found to be defective shall be replaced with similar, new doors or window units equipped with locking hardware.Property must be properly winterized.
(4) Roofs on all buildings shall be in good, weather tight condition with no leakage.
(5) Any accumulated trash or debris must be removed from the property immediately.
(6) Graffiti, tagging or similar markings must be immediately removed or painted over with an exterior grade paint that matches the exterior color of the structure.
(7) Pools and spas shall be drained and kept dry. Properties with pools and spas must comply with the minimum security fencing requirements of the City.
(8) Property shall be maintained free of nuisance conditions.
(9) Compliance with this section does not relieve the owner or agent in control of the property of any obligations set forth in any covenants, conditions, restrictions, homeowners' association rules and regulations and/or codified ordinances or building codes which may apply to the property.
(b) Registration Required.
(1) The owner, agent, lessee, or party in control of any vacant building, or a party that has filed a foreclosure action that is currently pending regarding any vacant building shall register the property with the Building Commissioner, and maintain the registration up to date.
(2) An application for registration of a vacant building shall include all of the following information on forms provided by the City:
A. The name of the owner, agent, lessee or party in control of the property and/or foreclosing entity submitting the registration application;
B. The direct mailing address of the applicant; P.O. boxes are not an acceptable address;
C. A contact name, telephone number and e-mail address for the applicant;
D. In the case of an applicant whose home or business address is located outside Cuyahoga County, the applicant shall provide the name and mailing address of a property management company located in Cuyahoga County as well as the contact name, telephone number and e-mail address of the person at that company responsible for the condition, security, maintenance, and marketing of the property.
E. The fee required by Section 1414.02(b)(5).
(3) Registration shall remain valid for twelve months from the date of issuance. The owner, agent, lessee or party in control, or party in a foreclosure action, shall renew the registration upon expiration for as long as the property remains vacant.
(4) The owner, agent, lessee, party in control, or party in a foreclosure action of any vacant building, shall inspect the property at least one time each month on the interior and exterior of the property to verify that the requirements of this section, the Codified Ordinances of the City, and any other applicable laws are being met. A written report of such inspections shall be provided to the City upon request.
(5) Fees: The annual registration fee required by this Section shall be two hundred dollars ($200.00).
(c) Exemptions. Waivers exempting compliance with the provisions of this chapter shall be obtained in writing on a form provided by the City under the following circumstances as long as the property is kept in safe, secure, and habitable condition in the owner's absence, including continual compliance with Section 1414.02
“Duties of Owner”:
(1) Fire damaged buildings: so long as clean up, repair or demolition is initiated within ninety days from the date of the fire.
(2) Extended vacationers or temporary change in living arrangements: A resident on an extended vacation or in an alternative temporary living arrangement, with the intention of re- occupying the property.
(3) A former South Euclid owner-occupant who has moved and is actively attempting to sell his/her vacant home.
(4) Estate of a deceased South Euclid homeowner which is actively attempting to sell the vacant home.
(Ord. 11-10. Passed 3-22-10; Ord. 13-16. Passed 10-24-16.)