As used throughout this chapter:
"Abandoned" means a structure that is unoccupied as the result of the relinquishment of possession or control by an owner or other person with the right of possession or control of the structure, a mortgagor or the mortgagor's assigns whether or not the mortgagor or mortgagor's assigns have relinquished equity and title. A structure may be deemed abandoned when there is evidence of conditions, taken separately or as a whole, that would lead a reasonable person to conclude that the property was abandoned, including, but not limited to, evidence of overgrown or dead vegetation, accumulation of newspapers, circulars, flyers, mail, past due utility notices, or other means of notice by publication, the accumulation of junk, litter, trash, or debris, absence of windows or window treatments, absence of furnishings and personal items, statements of neighbors, delivery agents or similarly situated persons that the property is abandoned.
"Codes" means the Codified Ordinances of the City of Springfield or those adopted by said Codified Ordinances.
"Director" means the Director of Community Development of the City of Springfield or such person as the Director may designate to act on behalf of the Director.
"Owner" means the registered owner of a property, any person who holds legal or equitable title to the property, is a mortgagee, a vendee-in-possession, assignee of rents, executor, trustee, lessee, agent or any other person, firm or corporation that is directly or indirectly in control of a property. The owner of a property in default or for which aoreclosure action is pending or for which a judgment in foreclosure has been issued shall include the mortgagee, the successor in interest to the mortgagee, the lender or servicing company and any agent acting for the mortgagee, its successors, or a lender or servicing company. Under this definition, there may be more than one "owner" of a property for purposes of this chapter.
"Vacant" means a structure that is not lawfully occupied or that otherwise qualifies as "abandoned" under this section. A property shall be considered vacant when it has been unoccupied for ninety (90) days. Multi-family residential structures shall be considered vacant when all of the dwelling units are not lawfully occupied or that otherwise qualifies as "abandoned" under this chapter.