(July 21, 2016) Owners of buildings in Snow Hill town limits deemed vacant or blighted by a code official are now on a timeline to register or repair the properties before the possibility of fines enter the discussion.
Passed last week during its regular council meeting, the ordinance’s purpose is to provide the town with the means to protect neighborhoods and businesses from poorly maintained buildings. The registration goes into effect on Aug. 1.
At the discretion of the code officer, the new regulation only applies to buildings that have been vacant for more than 90 days. The determination of what is and is not well maintained is based on several provisions: the property must be habitually vacant, attract an inordinate amount of calls for service as measured by the police department, is a fire hazard, has unfinished construction or demolition or creates a reasonable interference with reasonable and lawful use of surrounding properties.
According the new rule, the properties of residents on extended vacations or those with alternate living arrangements — wintering in Florida for example — would be exempt. However, a verified emergency contact number for the property owner or responsible party must be on file with the town and the property must be maintained while the owners are away.
The town will produce and manage forms for registration, which require information such as property address and contact information of all owners. There is no fee for registration, and changes must be made to an existing registration within 30 days.
Failing that, properties determined by the town to be vacant or blighted can start issuing $100 fines after 30 days. Appeals may be filed within 30 days of the initial report to the Housing Review Board. The code requires the appeal hearing to take place within 10 days from the application for appeal.
Whether properties are vacant and secured, vacant and unsecured or vacant and boarded, registration is required under the ordinance.
Passed last week during its regular council meeting, the ordinance’s purpose is to provide the town with the means to protect neighborhoods and businesses from poorly maintained buildings. The registration goes into effect on Aug. 1.
At the discretion of the code officer, the new regulation only applies to buildings that have been vacant for more than 90 days. The determination of what is and is not well maintained is based on several provisions: the property must be habitually vacant, attract an inordinate amount of calls for service as measured by the police department, is a fire hazard, has unfinished construction or demolition or creates a reasonable interference with reasonable and lawful use of surrounding properties.
According the new rule, the properties of residents on extended vacations or those with alternate living arrangements — wintering in Florida for example — would be exempt. However, a verified emergency contact number for the property owner or responsible party must be on file with the town and the property must be maintained while the owners are away.
The town will produce and manage forms for registration, which require information such as property address and contact information of all owners. There is no fee for registration, and changes must be made to an existing registration within 30 days.
Failing that, properties determined by the town to be vacant or blighted can start issuing $100 fines after 30 days. Appeals may be filed within 30 days of the initial report to the Housing Review Board. The code requires the appeal hearing to take place within 10 days from the application for appeal.
Whether properties are vacant and secured, vacant and unsecured or vacant and boarded, registration is required under the ordinance.