Number
111276
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN AND MURPHY
Title
A substitute ordinance relating to enforcement of property maintenance and building security requirements for vacant buildings.
Sections
200-51.7-10.5 cr
Analysis
Presently, the building code requires that, with certain exceptions, the owner of any building that becomes vacant shall, within 30 days after the building becomes vacant, file a registration certificate with the department of neighborhood services and pay the associated registration fee. The code also prescribes lot maintenance standards, exterior and interior building maintenance standards, and building security standards for vacant buildings registered with the city. Penalties for failure to register or failure to secure and maintain a vacant building are also provided.
This ordinance provides that the commissioner of neighborhood services shall promptly, pursuant to s. 66.0119, Wis. Stats., petition the court for a special inspection warrant to enter upon the premises of a vacant building and immediately take all actions necessary to ensure the building is compliant with the maintenance and security requirements if the common council, by resolution, makes findings that:
a. The property owner or entity functioning as a trustee of the owner has failed to secure and maintain the property as required by the vacant building registration ordinance.
b. The lack of proper securing or maintenance of the property by the owner or trustee is resulting in the permissive waste of the property.
c. The property is of substantial and extraordinary historic, architectural or commercial value to the surrounding neighborhood and to the city as a whole.
In addition, this ordinance provides that whenever, pursuant to this new authority, the commissioner takes actions necessary to ensure that a vacant building is compliant with the maintenance and security standards, all costs of such actions shall be charged as a lien...
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