Proposed Ordinance:

Vacant Building
Registration
√ Goal 1: Land Use and Image
√ Goal 2: Vibrant Neighborhoods
√ Goal 3: Economic Development
√ Goal 4: Safe, Secure City
√ Goal 10: Environmentally Sustainable Community

Deliver exceptional services and promote a high quality of

life and to our residents, visitors and businesses.

City Council Work Session

June 10, 2009
 Overview
 Impact

 Identify Issue

 Outline of Registration Ordinance

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 Impact of Ordinance
 Inventory of vacant buildings

 Enhanced maintenance and

monitoring of vacant buildings

 Revocation of C.O.

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Issue: Vacant Buildings
 Discourage
economic
development
 Become an
attractive nuisance
 Affect nearby
properties’ values
 Vulnerable to fire
 Attract theft and
vandalism
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 Other Municipalities with
Vacant Building Ordinances
 Albany, NY
 Arlington, TX
 Chicago, IL
 Corpus Christi, TX
 Dallas, TX
 Minneapolis, MN
 Sacramento, CA
 Salisbury, MD
 Sioux Falls, SD
 St. Paul, MN
 Wilmington, DE

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 Recommendation
 Amendment to Chapter 8

 Requires owners of vacant

commercial buildings and
apartment complexes to register

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Definition of Vacancy

 90 days unoccupied

 100% vacant
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Do not have to register for
first 180 days
 After an occupied building suffers fire, flood,
storm, or similar event

 After the building was occupied if the property is

being rehabilitated or demolished

 After the building was occupied if the property is

being marketed and advertised for lease or sale

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 Do not have to register
if:
 The building is being repaired or
demolished through a Building and
Standards Commission order

 The building is being repaired or

demolished through a court order in a case
in which the City is a party

 The building is owned by the State of

Texas or the United States of America

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 Insurance Required
 Requires $1,000,000
coverage
 City named as an
additional insured
 Covers loss
resulting from:
– the owner’s use of
the building
– a condition of the
vacant building
– lack of supervision of
vacant building
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 Emergency Contact
 Designateperson able to arrive at
vacant building
– In an emergency, e.g. fire
– Within 1 hour of being called by City

 City
must be able to contact this
person at all times

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 Vacant Building Plan
 Owner must submit a plan with application

 Plan must detail:

– time of vacancy
– plan for maintenance
– repair schedule
– measures for security and inspections
– steps to reduce the adverse impact on
neighboring properties (e.g. trespass affidavit)

 Plan must be approved by Building Official

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Inspections
 Owner must allow
City reasonable
inspections

 City must inspect at

least once per year

 Owner must inspect

building at least
once per week
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 Registration Fee
 $250 administrative fee

 $75 yearly inspection

 Partial
refund if occupied within 6
months of registration

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Innovative Provision: Removal
of Combustible Contents

 Requires combustible contents to be

removed from vacant building
 Code inspectors can issue this citation

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 Innovative Provision:
C.O. Revocation
 The Building Official revokes the
certificate of occupancy upon
registration

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Questions /
Comments