As used in this Article, the following terms shall have the meanings ascribed herein, unless the context clearly indicates that a different meaning is intended:
(a) "Actively marketed" means doing those things and performing those activities necessary to sell a structure and includes using the services of a realtor licensed in West Virginia with the services being provided under a contract signed by both the realtor and the seller, with the sales price being established to facilitate the sale of the property.
(b) "City" means the City of Winfield, West Virginia.
(c) "Notice Address" means the address of the property maintained by the Assessor of Putnam County for the purposes of assessing Ad Valorem taxes against the property.
(d) "Occupied or occupying" means the present use of a structure for its intended purpose by persons or for a commercial activity on a consistent bases over time; provided that the structure shall cease to be occupied if the qualified use ceases for more than one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days. The terms "occupied" or "occupying" do not include unauthorized persons or trespassers or for an illegal activity, unless such use is in conjunction with a legal activity.
(e) "Owner" means the person assessed for ad valorem taxes as the owner of the property.
(f) "Person" means a natural person or a firm, trust, corporation, association, partnership, limited liability company, limited partnership, public entity, joint venture or any other kind of entity or enterprise, whether or not incorporated or certificated with any public body of any kind or character.
(g) "Property" means any parcel of real property or any right of interest in real property upon which a structure is located and that is identifiable of record with the County Clerk of Putnam County.
(h) "Structure" means any physical facility this is or was intended to be occupied as a personal residence or for a legal commercial activity.
(i) "Vacant structure" means a structure that is not occupied as defined in this section. "Vacant structure" shall not include those structures that are currently under construction, being renovated or being actively marketed, or are otherwise exempt from registration in accordance with Section of this Article.
(j) "Vacant Structure Registration Fee" means the fee that is imposed under the authority of this Article, and includes any fee imposed as a penalty for failure to register a vacant structure.
(Ord. 2017-2018-6. Passed 1-9-18.)