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Council advances ordinances to register vacant properties, declare unfit dwellings and set fees
Summary
City staff proposed and council advanced ordinances to create a vacant-and-abandoned building registry, a process to declare dwellings unfit for human habitation, and an amended fee schedule. Council approved first readings and an amendment that adds tiered registration fees and moves the registry's effective date to Jan. 1, 2026.
The Florence City Council took initial legislative steps Tuesday to strengthen the city's tools for addressing dilapidated and vacant properties, voting on a package of code changes that would require registration of vacant buildings, authorize determinations that dwellings are unfit for human habitation, and set registration fees for different property types.
Lede and action summary: On first reading, the council considered Bill 2025-03 to add a vacant-and-abandoned residential, commercial and industrial building registry to Chapter 4 of the city code and Bill 2025-04, described in the meeting as an “unfit dwelling” ordinance that would authorize the building official to declare residences uninhabitable under a defined set of conditions. Council members later moved the vacant-and-abandoned registry discussion into executive session for legal advice, returned to open session and approved an amendment that created separate fee schedules for residential and commercial properties and changed the ordinance’s effective date to Jan. 1, 2026.
Why it matters: Council and staff said vacant and dilapidated properties create blight, public-safety exposures and fire risk; city staff described houses with trees growing through them and repeated incidents of trespass and fires. The proposed code changes are intended to provide an administrative pathway to require owner registration, document a property’s condition, levy escalating registration and inspection fees, and, in some cases, allow the city to proceed with demolition where owners do not comply.
Key provisions and clarifications from staff: The registry would categorize properties into three levels based on code-enforcement findings and would include exceptions — for example, buildings actively marketed for sale or lease, government-owned properties, and buildings that are already scheduled for demolition. Property owners would be required to provide contact information and display a no-trespass placard; staff will inspect properties and determine the appropriate category under the ordinance. The unfit-dwelling measure defines criteria for habitability determinations, such as ingress/egress, fresh water and sanitary disposal, electricity, heat during cold months, and required locks on exterior doors; it also references the international property maintenance code for additional habitation violations.
Fee changes and schedule: After returning from executive session, council adopted an amendment adding a tiered fee schedule for the registry. For residential properties the amendment sets an initial registration fee of $250, then annual renewals rising to $1,250 for the fourth year and thereafter; for commercial properties the amendment sets an initial registration at $500 with renewals that escalate to $4,000 annually after the third renewal. The amendment also moved the registry effective date from July 1, 2025 to Jan. 1, 2026.
Appeals and enforcement: Staff said the measures include an appeal process. Property owners may appeal determinations to staff, then to the Construction Maintenance Board of Adjustment, and ultimately to circuit court; alternatively, owners may rehabilitate properties to regain compliance. Council discussed available demolition funds and a city lien policy: staff said previously set funds have been used on a voluntary basis, the city may place a forgivable five-year lien for demolition costs, and income guidelines may exclude some low-income owners from having a lien placed.
What council asked for and next steps: Council moved the item through first reading and approved the fee amendment; staff signaled additional budgetary impacts will appear in the coming months as the city refines implementation. Council also approved on first reading the unfit-dwelling ordinance that works in conjunction with the registry to allow the building official and enforcement process to proceed.
Ending: Council members praised staff for drafting the code language and said the ordinances advance neighborhood revitalization efforts; the measures will return for second reading and final adoption at a later meeting, with implementation details and budget impacts to be addressed in coming budget documents.
