§ 87-3. Annual registration of vacant buildings; registration fees.

A. 

Vacant building registration and fees.

(1) 

Any owner of any building which has been vacant for more than 120 consecutive days shall file with the Town Clerk a Vacant Building Registration. Said Registration shall be in a form prescribed by the Town Clerk which shall include the street address and parcel number of each such vacant building, the names and addresses of all owners, in accordance with Subsection A(1)(a) through (g) below, and any other information deemed necessary by the Town Clerk, and shall be notarized. In no instance shall the registration of a vacant building and the payment of registration fees be construed to exonerate the owner, agent or responsible party from responsibility for compliance with any other building code or housing code requirement. The registration fee(s), as required herein, shall be billed by the Town Clerk and shall be paid by January 1 of each year. For purposes of this section, the following shall also be applicable:

(a) 

If the owner is a corporation, the names and residence addresses of all officers and directors of the corporation shall be provided and shall be accompanied by a copy of the most recent annual franchise tax report filed with the Secretary of State;

(b) 

If the owner is a limited-liability company, the name and residence address of the managing member shall be provided;

(c) 

If the owner is an estate, the name and business address of the executor or administrator of the estate shall be provided;

(d) 

If the owner is a trust, the name and address of all trustees, grantors shall be provided;

(e) 

If the owner is a partnership, the names and residence addresses of all partners with an interest of 10% or greater shall be provided;

(f) 

If the owner is any other form of unincorporated association, the names and residence addresses of all principals with an interest of 10% or greater shall be provided;

(g) 

If the owner is an individual person, the name and residence address of that individual person shall be provided.

(2) 

Local agent.

(a) 

If none of the persons listed in Subsection A(1)(a) through (g) above are within the state, the registration statement also shall provide the name and address of a person who resides within the state and who is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of the owners.

(b) 

The registration statement shall designate a responsible, local party or agent for purposes of notification in the event of an emergency affecting the public health, safety or welfare.

B. 

Fee.

[Amended 1-24-2017 by L.L. No. 4-2017, effective 2-6-2017]

(1) 

The owner(s) of the vacant property(ies) shall be responsible to register and pay the annual nonrefundable registration fee. Thereafter, said fee shall be billed by the Town Clerk annually on November 1.

(2) 

One Vacant Building Registration may be filed to include all vacant buildings situated upon a single property of an owner so registering. The fee shall apply to the property upon which the buildings are situated. A separate fee need not be paid for each building upon a single property.

C. 

Appeal rights. The owner shall have the right to appeal the imposition of the registration fees to the Commissioner of Planning, Environment and Land Management, upon filing an application in writing to the Town Clerk no later than 30 calendar days from the date of the billing statement. On appeal, the owner shall bear the burden of providing proof that the building is occupied.

D. 

One-time waiver of registration fee. A one-time waiver of the registration fee for up to 90 days may be granted by the Town Clerk upon application of the owner and upon review and advice of the Town Attorney, within 30 calendar days from the date of the bill for the registration fee, or if denied by the Town Clerk, upon appeal to the Commissioner of Planning, Environment and Land Management, if the owner:

(1) 

Demonstrates with satisfactory proof that he/she is in the process of demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the vacant building; and demonstrates the anticipated length of time for the demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the vacant building; or

(2) 

Demonstrates he/she is actively attempting to sell or lease the property during the vacancy period; and

(3) 

Is current on all registration fees and all other financial obligations and/or debts owed to the Town which are associated with the vacant property.

E. 

Two-year waiver. Upon application by the owner and satisfaction of Subsection D above, the Town Clerk may grant a one-time, two-year waiver of the registration fee, or if denied by the Town Clerk, upon appeal to the Commissioner of Planning, Environment and Land Management, if the owner meets the criteria for nonprofit organizations.

F. 

Delinquent registration fees as a lien.

(1) 

After the owner is given notice of the amount of the registration fee due, except for those owners that have properly perfected an appeal as provided above, and the owner fails to pay the amount due, said amount shall constitute a debt due and owing to the Town.

(2) 

Duty to amend registration statement. If the status of the registration information changes during the course of any calendar year, it is the responsibility of the owner, responsible party or agent for the same to contact the Town Clerk within 30 days of the occurrence of such changes and advise the Town Clerk in writing of those changes.

(3) 

Exceptions. This section shall not apply to any building owned by the United States, the state, the county, nor to any of their respective agencies or political subdivisions.