HB1583: Vacant building registration; increases maximum annual fee that ordinance may impose on owner.


HOUSE BILL NO. 1583
AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE
(Proposed by the House Committee on Counties, Cities and Towns
on January 18, 2013)
(Patrons Prior to Substitute--Delegates Dance and Ware, O. [HB 1621])
A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vacant building registration.

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That § 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

§ 15.2-1127. Vacant building registration; penalty.

The Town of Pulaski, in a conservation and rehabilitation district of the town, and any city, by ordinance, may require the owner or owners of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and which meet the definition of "derelict building" under § 15.2-907.1, to register such buildings on an annual basis and may impose an annual registration fee not to exceed $25 $100 to defray the cost of processing such registration. The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality. Failure to register shall be a $50 $200 civil penalty; however, failure to register in conservation and rehabilitation districts designated by the governing body, or in other areas designated as blighted pursuant to § 36-49.1:1, shall be punishable by a civil penalty not exceeding $250 $400. Notice shall be mailed to the owner or owners, at the address to which property tax notices are sent, at least 30 days prior to the assessment of the civil penalty.

HOUSE BILL NO. 1583

Offered January 9, 2013
Prefiled January 4, 2013
A BILL to amend and reenact 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vacant building registration.
Patron-- Dance
Committee Referral Pending

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:

1.  That 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:

15.2-1127. Vacant building registration; penalty.

The Town of Pulaski, in a conservation and rehabilitation district of the town, and any city, by ordinance, may require the owner or owners of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more to register such buildings on an annual basis and may impose an annual registration fee not to exceed $25 $200 to defray the cost of processing such registration. The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality. Failure to register shall be a $50 $400 civil penalty; however, failure to register in conservation and rehabilitation districts designated by the governing body, or in other areas designated as blighted pursuant to 36-49.1:1, shall be punishable by a civil penalty not exceeding $250 $600. Notice shall be mailed to the owner or owners, at the address to which property tax notices are sent, at least 30 days prior to the assessment of the civil penalty.