Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Vacant Building Registry topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Building Inspection Commission backs temporary probate exemption to vacant/abandoned registry
Summary
The commission voted unanimously Dec. 16 to support Board of Supervisors File No. 151,079, a measure to exempt properties undergoing probate from DBI—s vacant/abandoned registry and annual fee for up to two years provided the property is kept up to code and does not contribute to blight.
The Building Inspection Commission voted unanimously Dec. 16 to support a proposed ordinance (Board of Supervisors File No. 151,079) that would temporarily exempt properties in probate from the Department of Building Inspection—s vacant/abandoned building registry and the annual fee associated with that program.
Ray Law, a legislative aide who presented the item, said the proposal would allow a property undergoing probate to avoid being listed in DBI—s registry and charged the annual fee for up to two years so long as the property complies with relevant codes and "does not contribute to blight." Deputy Director Ed Sweeney told commissioners that probate cases are relatively rare but can be delayed by court processing and that the exemption is intended to accommodate owners who are actively resolving estate matters.
Commissioners asked how often probate cases occur, whether the exemption applies to bank-owned properties, and whether the two-year period is extendable. Law and Sweeney said the typical probate timeline is often less than two years but can run longer; under the draft language the two-year window is not automatically extendable and properties would need to register in the vacant/abandoned program after that period if unresolved.
Commissioner Walker moved to "approve, support this legislation," a motion the commission seconded and approved in a roll-call vote. The transcript shows affirmative votes from President McCarthy, Vice President Marr, Commissioner Clinch (listed in the roll call), Commissioner Lee, Commissioner McCray and Commissioner Walker; the motion carried unanimously.
The commission offered no public testimony against the proposal. Staff said the legislation is intended to reduce burdens on owners who are already constrained by probate proceedings while preserving DBI—s ability to require abatement where a property becomes blighted.
Next steps: the measure, referenced as Board of Supervisors File No. 151,079, will proceed through the clerk and legislative process; the commission recorded its support at this meeting.
