(a) Vacant Structure Fee. There shall be a fee for each vacant structure subject to registration on the vacant property registry. The fees shall be remitted to the City Clerk as determined by the following:
(1) A two hundred fifty dollar ($250.00) fee for a vacant structure that is placed on the vacant property registry;
(2) A five hundred dollar ($500.00) fee for a vacant structure that is an abandoned building or uninhabitable structure and is placed on the vacant property registry;
(3) A one thousand dollar ($1,000.00) fee for a vacant structure or abandoned building that is on the vacant property registry for 12 consecutive full months; and
(4) An additional ten dollar ($10.00) fee for each consecutive day that a vacant structure or abandoned building remains on the vacant property registry beyond twelve (12) consecutive months;
(b) For the purposes of this section, a year is 365 days.
(c) Waiver of Registration Fee. The owner of a vacant structure may request a waiver of the registration fee by providing the Code Enforcement Agency Official said request in writing. The Building Inspector may, on a case-by-case basis and for good cause shown, grant a waiver request.
(d) Violations and Penalties for Failure to Register Vacant Structures. The failure or refusal of any owner to register a vacant structure as required by this article, or failure to comply with any of the terms of this article shall constitute a violation punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine in the amount of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00) for each violation. It shall be a separate violation for each month that an owner knowingly fails or refuses to register a vacant structure as required by this article.
(e) Dedicated Account. All fees collected pursuant to this article shall be deposited into a separate, dedicated account and shall only be used to:
(1) Repair, close or demolish a vacant structure as authorized in W.Va. Code§ 8-12-16; or ·
(2) Improve public safety efforts, especially for police and fire personnel, who most often contend with the dangerous situations manifested in vacant properties; or
(3) Implement, monitor, and administer this article.
(Ord. 2020-13. Passed 12-7-20.)