Council adopts stricter definition, tiered fines for abandoned properties

The Lafayette City Council on the February meeting approved an amendment to Chapter 13.05 of the city code to expand how the city identifies and manages vacant and abandoned buildings and to establish a tiered fine schedule for noncompliant owners.

The ordinance broadens the definition of abandonment to include indicators such as boarded entrances, broken windows, terminated utilities and accumulated debris, and adds maintenance responsibilities requiring owners to secure properties, maintain landscaping, remove debris and ensure structural soundness. The ordinance also creates a fines schedule that escalates every 90 days until violations are corrected.

Mr. Klinker, a city staff member who presented the amendment, said the change is intended to “allow quicker intervention and prevent further deterioration of structures,” and described the new owner responsibilities. During public comment, Perry Barbee of 3700 Redwood Avenue asked whether the city maintains a public list of abandoned properties and whether reports would remain confidential. City staff said reporting via the city’s website and the SeeClickFix portal is the preferred method and that reports are not confidential; however, the city would follow public-record rules if the information were requested.

Council members asked about scope and enforcement. Staff replied the ordinance is citywide and that owners receive notifications (when contact information is known). The ordinance passed on a roll-call vote, recorded as unanimous (7–0).

The amendment adds an enforcement tool the city has used previously (unsafe-structure hearings) and is intended to speed remediation or demolition of properties that threaten neighborhood stability and housing supply. The city did not publish a complete list of targeted properties, and staff noted locating absentee owners can be difficult.