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City staff outline long, legally driven process for demolishing dilapidated properties; committee discusses enforcement and registry follow‑up
Summary
Building department staff described the city’s multi‑step process for handling dilapidated properties — from violation letters and administrative search warrants to asbestos abatement, title searches and demolition — and committee members pressed for better follow‑through on the vacant structure registry and tax‑lien issues.
Ordinance Committee members heard a detailed briefing on Charleston's process for addressing dilapidated and vacant structures, including outreach steps, legal notices, asbestos and title procedures, and constraints created by probate and tax‑lien sales.
Billy Smith (staff member) and Dan (staff member) explained the process to the committee after a sponsor asked staff to "explain our current process and how that works." Billy Smith said the department follows state code and the adopted property maintenance code, beginning with an inspector's violation letter and certified regular mail to the owner. He said inspectors send a so‑called "1‑10" demo/rehab letter when a property appears beyond reasonable repair and that staff obtain an administrative search warrant to enter a structure when owners cannot be located. "The very first thing we try to do is locate or contact an owner," Billy Smith said. He added, "every property has a different story. And…
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