Vacant buildings; registration by registered agents, etc., annually.

Plain English Breakdown

The bill does not specify an effective date, which is left open based on the official source material.

Vacant Building Registration Act

This act permits localities to require building owners or their registered agents to register buildings annually if they have been vacant for three years or more, and imposes penalties for non-compliance.

What This Bill Does

• Permits localities to require the registration of buildings that have been continuously vacant for at least three years on an annual basis.
• Requires owners or their registered agents to register buildings annually if they meet certain conditions after being vacant for at least one year, including meeting definitions of 'derelict building' or 'criminal blight'.
• Allows localities to charge an annual fee not exceeding $100 for processing the registration of these buildings.
• Specifies that registration forms must include the name and contact information of the building owner or their agent.
• Imposes a civil penalty of up to $400 for failing to register buildings in certain designated areas.

Who It Names or Affects

• Building owners who have properties that are vacant for at least three years.
• Registered agents representing building owners.
• Local governments creating and enforcing registration rules for vacant buildings.

Terms To Know

Derelict Building

A building that is in a state of disrepair or neglect, often posing safety risks to the community.

Criminal Blight

A condition where buildings are deteriorated and abandoned, leading to criminal activity and public nuisance.

Limits and Unknowns

• The specific details of how localities will implement these rules vary based on their ordinances.
• It is unclear which areas will be designated as conservation and rehabilitation districts or blighted areas under the new law.

Official Summary Text

Vacant building registration; registered agents.
Permits any locality to require, by ordinance, the owner, or his registered agent, of any building that has been continuously vacant for at least three years to register such building with the locality annually. The bill also allows the registered agent of an owner of any building that has been vacant for at least 12 months and (i) that meets the definition of "derelict building" in relevant law, (ii) that meets the definition of "criminal blight" in relevant law, or (iii) in which a locality has determined a person is living without the authority of the owner to file the registration forms required to be filed by the owner under current law. Finally, the bill provides that the registration forms shall include a requirement to provide the name and contact information for an owner required to register, or his registered agent.

Current Bill Text

An Act to amend and reenact §
15.2-1127
of the Code of Virginia, relating to vacant building registration; registered agents.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That §
15.2-1127
of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
§
15.2-1127
. Vacant building registration; civil penalty.
A.
Any
county, city, or town,
locality may
by ordinance
, may
require
the
an
owner
,
or
owners
his registered agent,
of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more and (i) that meet the definition of "derelict building" under §
15.2-907.1
, (ii) that meet the definition of "criminal blight" under §
15.2-907
, or (iii) in which a locality has determined a person is living without the authority of
the
an
owner
or owners
to register such buildings on an annual basis
and may impose an annual registration fee not to exceed $100 to defray the cost of processing such registration
.
B. Any locality may by ordinance require an owner, or his registered agent, of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of three years or more to register such buildings on an annual basis.
C. Any locality that adopts a vacant building registration ordinance pursuant to this section may impose an annual registration fee not to exceed $100 to defray the cost of processing such registration.
D.
The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality.
Such forms shall include a requirement to provide the name and contact information, including telephone number, for the owner, or the registered agent of an owner, required to register pursuant to this section.
Failure to register shall be a $200 civil penalty; however, failure to register in conservation and rehabilitation districts designated by the governing body, or in other areas designated as blighted pursuant to §
36-49.1:1
, shall be punishable by a civil penalty not exceeding $400. Notice shall be mailed to the owner
or owners
, at the address to which property tax notices are sent, at least 30 days prior to the assessment of the civil penalty.