Boonton, NJ

The Town of Boonton, N.J., has enacted property registration requirements within 10 days of foreclosure filing. The program will be enforced through a third-party service provider (ProChamps) and will include a $500 semi-annual fee.

Property Registration Ordinance Sample Text

Chapter 215, Section 5: Inspection and Registration of Real Property Under Foreclosure
(a) Any Mortgagee who holds a mortgage on Real Property located within the Town shall perform an inspection of the property upon default by the mortgagor as evidenced by the filing of a Foreclosure Action.

(b) Property inspected pursuant to subsection (a) above that remains in Foreclosure shall be inspected every thirty (30) days by the Mortgagee or Mortgagee’s designee. If an inspection shows a change in the property’s occupancy status the Mortgagee shall, within ten (10) days of that inspection, update the occupancy status of the property registration.

(c) Within ten (10) days of the date any Mortgagee files a Foreclosure Action, the Mortgagee shall register the Real Property with the Town Registry, and, at the time of registration, indicate whether the property is Vacant, and if so, shall designate in writing a Property Manager to inspect, maintain, and secure the Real Property subject to the mortgage under a Foreclosure Action when legally possible. A separate registration is required for each property under a Foreclosure Action, regardless of whether it is occupied or vacant.

(d) Initial registration pursuant to this section shall contain at a minimum the name of the Mortgagee, the mailing address of the Mortgagee, e-mail address, telephone number and name of the Property Manager and said person’s address, e-mail address, and telephone number.

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Pine Bluff, AR

The City of Pine Bluff, Ark., has proposed property registration requirements for buildings, structures or dwellings that have been vacant for more than three consecutive months. In addition, the ordinance would allow the code enforcement department to investigate any property subject to registration and register it as vacant while notifying the owner within five business days.

Media Coverage Excerpt

Source: Arkansas Democrat Gazette (5/13/21)

Structures exempt from registration:
Buildings owned by another government entity.

• Buildings that are vacant due to fire damage, or by act of God, or other casualty rendering the structure unsafe for occupancy. The owner(s) shall promptly take steps to repair or demolish the structure as per Article II – Administration and Enforcement – Division 2; Section 29-55.

The following properties shall be registered as vacant, but are exempt from paying a registration fee:

• A building actively being marketed for sale or lease.
• A building under reconstruction or renovation with a current permit.
• A building involved in probate, or the owner is incapacitated. After a period of 12 months, however, this exemption sunsets and the property must be registered unless another exemption applies.
  

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Dallas, TX

The City of Dallas, Texas, has proposed to expand a vacant building registration program currently focused on the renovation/replacement of downtown structures. The new plan aims to enforce the program city-wide and would include vacant buildings and lots.

Media Coverage Excerpt

Source: NBCDFW 5 Dallas (5/19/21)

In 2008, the city of Dallas launched a vacant building registration program aimed at renovating or replacing downtown Dallas structures.

The new plan calls for taking the registration program city-wide for vacant buildings and lots.

Dallas Code Enforcement Director Carl Simpson told Dallas City Council members Wednesday (5/19) that better computer equipment is also planned to manage and track the condition of properties.

City officials will ask the City Council to approve the new program next month. They plan to give property owners warning before new fines are imposed this fall.

“We should be working with the property owner if they are making a good-faith effort at compliance,” Simpson said.

City Council member Chad West said he wants the rules to be clear and not subjective for code enforcement, but he supports the tougher approach for Dallas vacancy issues.

“Great presentation and I'm excited about the program, what I understand about it so far,” West said.

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View the city plan (Vacant Property Registration Program)

Safeguard Properties Vacant Property Registration Matrix

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