Source: https://ecode360.com/30211363
Timestamp: 2019-04-21 06:24:58+00:00

Document:
§ 218-1 Purpose and enforcement.
§ 218-4 Registration statement and fees; local agent.
§ 218-5 Uses of paid fees and fines.
§ 218-6 Appeal rights as to determination of vacant status.
§ 218-7 One-time waiver of registration fee.
§ 218-8 Decision on application for waiver.
§ 218-9 Delinquent registration fees as a lien.
§ 218-10 Duty to amend registration statement.
§ 218-11 Violations and penalties.
Property maintenance — See Ch. 214.
Administration and enforcement of this chapter shall be under the control of the Code Enforcement Officials of the Township.
A building, structure or dwelling unit subject to the provisions of this chapter if in place of one or more exterior doors, other than a storm door, or of one or more windows, there is a sheet or sheets of plywood or similar material covering the space for such door or window.
Written notice of a violation or requirement under this chapter mailed, pursuant to first class mail, to the last known address of the owner of the property in question.
As applied to a building or structure subject to the provisions of this chapter means where one or more persons actually conducts a lawful business or resides in all or any part of the building as the licensed business-occupant, or as the legal or equitable owner/occupant(s) or tenant(s) on a permanent, nontransient basis, or any combination of the same. For purposes of this chapter, evidence offered to prove that a building is so occupied may include, but shall not be limited to, the regular receipt of delivery of regular mail through the U.S. Postal Service; proof of continual telephone, electric, gas, heating, water and sewer services; a valid Township business license, or the most recent, federal, state, or Township tax statements indicating that the subject property is the official business or residence address of the person or business claiming occupancy; or proof of tenant-occupied property license inspection.
A building or structure or dwelling unit subject to the provisions of this chapter in which any one or more exterior doors, other than a storm door, is broken, open and/or closed, but, without a properly functioning lock to secure it, or if one or more windows is broken or not capable of being locked and secured from intrusion or any combination of the same.
Any person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the official records of the state, county or Township as holding title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the executor or administrator of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.
As applied to a building or structure subject to the provisions of this chapter means no person or persons actually, currently conducts a lawfully licensed business, or lawfully resides or lives in any part of the building as the legal or equitable owner(s) or tenant-occupant(s), or owner-occupants, or tenant(s) on a permanent nontransient basis.
If an individual person, the name and residence address of that individual person.
If none of the persons listed in § 218-3 is shown at an address 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 and who shall be designated as a responsible, local party or agent, both for purposes of notification in the event of an emergency affecting the public health, safety or welfare and for purposes of service of any and all notices or registration statements as herein authorized and in connection herewith.
Registration shall be required for all vacant buildings, whether vacant and secure, vacant and open or vacant and boarded, and shall be required whenever any building has remained vacant for 30 consecutive days or more. 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 Township code or ordinance requirement. One registration statement may be filed to include all vacant buildings of the owner so registering.
The owner of the vacant property, as of September 15 of each calendar year, shall be responsible for the filing of his/her registration statement and, where applicable, registration payment of the nonrefundable registration fee. Said fee shall be billed by the Township and shall be established from time to time by resolution of the Board of Commissioners.
Upon the registration of a property, the Township Code Enforcement officials may conduct an inspection of the property to determine if it complies with the applicable Township codes and ordinances. If the inspection finds violations of Township codes or ordinances, the Township shall issue a notice of violation as per the requirements of those Township codes or ordinances and give notice to the owner to comply.
Registration fees shall become dedicated to a line item in the budget for the Township's enforcement and administration of the vacant property registration requirements within this chapter. Fines for violations of this chapter shall go to the Township's general fund.
The owner shall have the right to appeal the imposition of the registration fees to the Board of Commissioners upon filing an application, in writing, to the Township Secretary no later than 15 calendar days after the date of the billing statement. On appeal, the owner shall bear the burden of providing satisfactory objective proof of "occupied" status as defined in this chapter.
Within 60 days after the waiver application is received by the Township Secretary, the Board of Commissioners shall grant or deny the waiver, in writing, and dispatch the written decision by mail to the owner.
After the owner is given notice of the amount of the registration fee due, except for those owners that have properly perfected and pursued to successful result, an appeal pursuant to § 218-6 of this chapter and the owner fails to pay the amount due, said amount shall constitute a debt due and owing to the Township, and the Township may enter a lien on the property as provided by law.
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 Township within 30 days of the occurrence of such change and advise the Township, in writing, of those changes.
The failure or refusal for any reason of any owner, or agent of an owner acting on behalf of the owner, to file a registration statement or to pay any fees required to be paid pursuant to the provisions of this section, within 30 days after notice, shall constitute a violation punishable upon conviction thereof by a fine in the amount of not less than $300 nor more than $1,000 for the first two continual and uncorrected failures or refusals to register, or for each failure or refusal to pay and not exceeding $5,000 for the third and any subsequent continual and uncorrected failure or refusal to register or for each subsequent failure or refusal to pay or imprisonment for any term not exceeding 90 days, or both. Unpaid fines shall be registered as a lien against the violating building.
All ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed to the extent of any inconsistency.
This chapter shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.

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