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2016 SESSION

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16105394D
SENATE BILL NO. 481 AMENDMENT IN THE NATURE OF A SUBSTITUTE (Proposed by the Senate Committee on Local Government on February 9, 2016) (Patron Prior to Substitute--Senator Ebbin) A BILL to amend and reenact § 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vacant building registration.

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; penalty.

A. The Town of Clifton Forge, the Town of Pulaski, in a conservation and rehabilitation district of the town, and any city, by ordinance, may require the owner or owners of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more, and which meet the definition of "derelict building" under § 15.2-907.1, 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. The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality. Failure to register shall be a $200 civil penalty; however, failure to register in a conservation and rehabilitation districts district designated by the governing body, or in other areas an area 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.

B. Any city with a population density that exceeds 9,000 persons per square mile may by ordinance require the owner or owners of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more to register such buildings on an annual basis. No fee shall be charged for such registration. Registration shall not be required if (i) a building is listed for sale or lease with a common source information company as defined in § 54.1-2130, (ii) a "for sale" sign with valid contact information is conspicuously posted on the site, or (iii) a building is under renovation and a building permit has been granted for such renovation project. A bank that owns a building acquired through foreclosure shall not be required to register such building until it has determined that the building has been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more. The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality. Failure to register shall be a $200 civil penalty. 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.