Property Registration: Colorado, Ohio and West Virginia

Aurora, CO

The city of Aurora, Colo. has amended its property registration requirement to reflect an increased annual registration of $61.25.  The program will continue to be enforced by the city.

Property Registration Ordinance

ORDINANCE NO. 2009-08

FOR AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 22 OF THE CITY CODE OF THE CITY OF AURORA, COLORADO, REGARDING REGISTRATION OF ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES

SECTION 22-641. ABANDONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY REGISTRATION REQUIRED.

(B)  REGISTRATION

(1) ANY BENEFICIARY WHO HOLDS A DEED OF TRUST ON A RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY LOCATED WITHIN THE CITY OF AURORA, SHALL, WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) CALENDAR DAYS OF FILING THE INITIAL NOTICE OF ELECTION AND DEMAND OR THE INITIAL PLEADINGS FOR A JUDICIAL FORECLOSURE, PERFORM OR CAUSE TO BE PERFORMED AN INSPECTION OF THE PROPERTY WHICH IS SECURITY FOR THE DEED OF TRUST.  IF THE PROPERTY IS FOUND TO BE VACANT OR SHOWS EVIDENCE WHICH WOULD CAUSE A REASONABLE PERSON TO BELIEVE IT IS VACANT, THEN THE PROPERTY IS, BY THIS SECTION, DEEMED ABANDONED AND A NUSIANCE AND THE BENEFICIARY SHALL, WITHIN FOURTEEN (14) CALENDAR DAYS OF THE INSPECTION, REGISTER THE PROPERTY WITH THE DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOOD SERVICES OR HIS OR HER DESIGNEE ON FORMS PROVIDED BY THE CITY.  

(2) AN ANNUAL REGISTRATION FEE SHALL ACCOMPANY THE REGISTRATION FORM.  THE FEE AND REGISTREATION SHALL BE VALID FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR, OR REMAINING PORTION OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, IN WHICH THE REGISTRATION WAS INITIALLY REQUIRED.  SUBSEQUENT REGISTRATIONS AND FEES ARE DUE JANUARY 1ST OF EACH YEAR AND MUST BE RECEIVED NO LATER THAN JANUARY 31ST OF THE YEAR DUE.  REGISTRATION FEES WILL NOT BE PRORATED.

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Mentor-on-the-Lake, OH

The city of Mentor-on-the-Lake, Ohio has amended its property registration requirement to reflect an annual registration fee of $300.  Annual renewals and fees will be due January 1 of each year.

Property Registration Ordinance 

CHAPTER 1466

Inspection and Maintenance of Vacant Buildings and Lands

1466.01  DEFINITIONS, REGISTRATION REQUIREMENT AND FEE.

(b) Registration and Registration Fee. The owner(s) of any dwelling structure that has become vacant, as defined above, shall within sixty days after the structure becomes vacant, or within thirty days after the effective date of this Section 1466.01(b) whichever is later, register with the Zoning Inspector of designee and designate an authorized agent located in Lake County for each vacant dwelling structure.  The registration shall remain valid until December 31 of the year of the date of issuance.  The owner(s) shall be required to annually renew the registration by January 1 of each subsequent year for as long as the dwelling structure remains vacant and shall pay an annual registration fee of three hundred dollars ($300.00) for each registered dwelling structure.  The annual registration fee will not be prorated.

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Morgantown, WV

The city of Morgantown, W.Va. has amended its property registration requirement within 30 days of vacancy. The programs annual registration fee has increased to the following escalating fee schedule:
Initial Registration: NO COST
1st Renewal: $5.00
2nd Renewal: $1000.00
3rd Renewal: $2000.00
4th Renewal: $3500.00

5th and Subsequent Renewals: $4000.00 for up to 5 years, plus an additional $1000.00 for each year in excess of 5 years

Property Registration Ordinance 

CODE OF ORDINANCES CITY OF MORGANTOWN, WEST VIRGINIA

CHAPTER FIVE - LOCAL PROVISIONS

ARTICLE 1718. - VACANT STRUCTURE CODE

Sec. 1718.04. - Registration. 

a)  All owners of realty within the City of Morgantown that contain a vacant building, shall register each vacant building with the City's Building Official or his/her designee within 30 days after the structure meets the definition of a vacant building and on each subsequent July 1st when a vacant building is present on the owner(s)' property.

(b)  Registration is required annually, and at the time the vacant structure is registered, the registration form must be accompanied by a registration fee in the amount prescribed by this section.  

(c)  Registration statement and fees; local agent.

     (1) A registration statement in the form prescribed by the City must be filed by the owner or owner's local agent for all vacant buildings.  Registration and payment of fees does not exonerate the owner, agent or responsible party from penalties for failure to comply with any building, housing or fire code requirement.  One registration statement may be filed to include all vacant building of an owner, but a separate fee is assessed for each vacant building.

     (2) The owner(s) of the property on which a vacant building exists at the time registration is required shall be responsible, jointly and severally, for payment of the non-refundable registration fee; provided, that the City may not collect any amount exceeding the total prescribed fee.  The fee shall be due upon registration in the following amount for each vacant building:

1. No fee for properties that are vacant for less than one year; 
2. Five hundred dollars for properties that are vacant for at least one year but less than two years; 
3. One thousand dollars for properties that vacant for at least two years but less than three years; 
4. Two thousand dollars for properties that are vacant for at least three years but less than four years; 
5. Three thousand five hundred dollars for properties that are vacant for at least four years but less than five years; and
6. Four thousand dollars for properties that are vacant for at least five years, plus an additional $1,000.00 for each year in excess of five years.

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Safeguard Properties Vacant Property Registration Matrix

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