HomeMy WebLinkAbout2000-12-19 Ordinance Prepared by: Doug Boothroy, Housing & Inspection Sen/ices Director 410 E. Washington Street, Iowa City, IA 52240; 319-356-5121
ORDINANCE NO. 00-3954
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLE 6, CHAPTER 1 (NUISANCES) OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES
OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY BY ADDING STANDARDS AND PROCEDURES FOR THE
REGISTRATION AND REGULATION OF ABANDONED/VACANT BUILDINGS.
WHEREAS, unmonitored abandoned/vacant buildings are likely to become health and safety hazards
due to lack of maintenance, lack of security, dilapidation and general neglect; and
WHEREAS, unmonitored abandoned/vacant buildings are likely to become attractive nuisances to
children or a harbor for vagrants and criminals; and
WHEREAS, it is in the public interest to register abandoned/vacant properties with the City and to
provide monitoring, regulation, and inspection of such properties to prevent same from becoming
nuisances and safety concerns.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF IOWA CITY,
IOWA:
SECTION I. Section 6-1-1, "Definitions," is hereby amended by repealing the definition of "Abandoned
Building" and substituting in its place the following new definition:
Abandoned/Vacant Building: Any building or portion of a building which is: (a) unoccupied and unsecured;
or (b) unoccupied and secured by means other than those used in the design of the building; or (c)
declared a dangerous building under the Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings; or (d)
unoccupied and unfit for occupancy as determined by a government agency; or (e) unoccupied and has
Housing and Building Code violations; or (f) unoccupied for a continuous period of time over one hundred
and eighty (180) calendar days.
Section 6-1-1, "Definitions," is hereby amended to add the new definition of "Unoccupied":
Unoccupied: A building in which there is a lack of physical presence on a regular basis for the purpose for
which it was erected or a building unfit for occupancy due to failure to meet minimum standards set out by
City Ordinance for the issuance of a Certificate of Occupancy.
Subsection 6-1-2H, "Unoccupied, Dangerous Buildings," is hereby amended by repealing Subsection
H and substituting in its place the following new Subsection H:
Abandoned, Vacant or Dangerous Buildings:
1. Vacant buildings, or vacant portions of buildings.
2. Abandoned buildings.
3. Dangerous buildings or structures.
A new Section 6-1-5, "Vacant Building Registration and Inspections," is hereby added as follows with the
previous Section 6-1-5 renumbered to 6-1-6 as appropriate:
A. Vacant Building Registration
1. The owner shall register a vacant or abandoned building with the City not later than thirty (30)
calendar days after any building in the City becomes an abandoned/vacant building as defined in
this Chapter. Failure to register an abandoned/vacant building or providing false information to the
City shall be a violation of this chapter and punishable as a simple misdemeanor or municipal
infraction as provided for in Title I, Chapter 4 of this code.
2. The registration shall include the following information:
a. A description of the premises;
b. The names and addresses of the owner or owners;
c. The names and addresses of all known lien-holders and all other parties with an
ownership interest in the building;
d. The name of the agent designated to act on the behalf of an out-of-town property owner to
Ordinance No. 00-3954
Page 2
accept legal processes and notices, and to authorize repairs as required; and
e. The period of time the building is expected to remain vacant and/or a plan and timetable to
comply with applicable City codes.
B. Vacant Building Registration Fees
The owner of a vacant building shall pay an annual fee reasonably related to the administrative cost of
registering and processing the Vacant Building Owner Registration form and the costs of the City in
monitoring and inspecting the vacant building site. This fee shall be established by resolution of the City
Council and shall be paid in full pdor to the issuance of any permits or acceptance of the registration form
for the subject property.
C. Inspections
The owner shall allow inspections upon request and allow annual inspections of the interior and exterior
of the premises for the purpose of enforcing and assuring compliance with the provisions of this Chapter
and Housing and Building Codes.
SECTION II. REPEALER. All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with the provisions of
this Ordinance are hereby repealed.
SECTION III. SEVERABILITY. If any section, provision or part of the Ordinance shall be adjudged to
be invalid or unconstitutional, such adjudication shall not affect the validity of the Ordinance as a whole or
any section, provision or part thereof not adjudged invalid or unconstitutional.
SECTION IV. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall be in effect after its final passage, approval
and publication, as provided by law.
P~/and approved this ].9thda of December' ,20 00
ATTEST: '/~CCTY CLERK
Ap by
City At '
OrdinanceNo. 00-3954
Page 3
It was moved by Vander'hoef and seconded by Pfah that the Ordinance
as read be adopted, and upon roll call there were:
AYES: NAYS: ABSENT:
X Champion
X Kanner
X Lehman
× O'Donnell
X Pfab
X Vanderhoef
X Wilbum
First Consideration ].1/7/00
Vote for passage: AYES: Lehman, O'Donne]l, Pfab, Vandef'hoef, t4ilbur'n, Champion,
Kanner. NAY5: None. ABSENT: None.
Se~Snd Consideration ].1/21/00
Voteforpassage: AYES: Wilbur'n, Vandef-hoef, Champ'ion, Kanner, Lehman, O'Donne'l'l,
Vanderhoef. NAYS: None. ABSENT: None.
Date published ].2/27/00