The fees shall be reasonably related to the administrative costs for registering and processing the vacant building owner registration form and for the costs incurred by the City in monitoring the vacant building site. The annually increased fee amounts shall be reasonably related to the costs incurred by the City for demolition and hazard abatement of or repairs to vacant buildings, as well as the continued normal administrative costs stated above.
(a) The owner or person in control of a vacant residential building shall pay an annual fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the first year the building remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the building remains vacant, the annual fee will be increased by fifty dollars ($50.00) over the previous year's fee amount, for a maximum annual fee equaling the five (5) year fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(b) The owner or person in control of a vacant commercial building shall pay an annual fee of four hundred dollars ($400.00) for the first year the building remains vacant. For every consecutive year that the building remains vacant, the annual fee will be increased by seventy-five dollars ($75.00) over the previous year's fee amount, for a maximum annual fee equaling the five (5) years fee of seven hundred dollars ($700.00) to be used for the fifth and for all consecutive, subsequent years of vacancy.
(c) The first annual fee shall be paid at the time the building is registered. If the fee is not paid, or if the registration form is not properly completed or submitted to the Steubenville Planning and Zoning Commission, the owner or person in control shall be considered in violation of the provisions of this Chapter.
(d) The fee shall be paid in full and registration completed prior to the issuance of any building permits unless the property is granted an exemption. The fee shall be prorated and a refund may be issued if the building is no longer deemed vacant under the provisions of this Chapter within one hundred eighty (180) days of its registry.
(e) All delinquent fees shall be paid by the owner or person in control prior to any transfer of an ownership interest in the vacant building. A lien may be placed on the property to collect delinquent fees.
(f) Late fees shall be paid in addition to the annual registration and will be equal to the annual fee or one thousand dollars ($1,000.00), whichever is less.
(g) All fees received under this section shall be deposited with the Director of Finance under the Property Maintenance Code Enforcement line item and used to cover the costs of implementation of this Chapter and the demolition of vacant buildings and related expenses.
(Ord. 2013-89. Passed 1-21-14.)
(Ord. 2013-89. Passed 1-21-14.)