Stockton adopts ordinance requiring registration of vacant commercial properties, sets $826 annual fee

The Stockton City Council adopted an ordinance July 28 that creates Title 15, Chapter 15.34 of the Stockton Municipal Code to require registration and maintenance of vacant commercial buildings and vacant lots.

Janetta McDonald, police services administrator, summarized the ordinance, which defines a commercial property as vacant when more than 50% of commercial units in a building are unoccupied for greater than 180 days, and a vacant lot as land without structures. The proposal includes a registration requirement, fees, and enforcement remedies including fines or abatement for noncompliance. Staff said a recommended annual registration fee of $826 would apply to each vacant commercial building or vacant lot and that the ordinance (if adopted) would take effect 30 days after adoption.

Public commenters supported the idea while urging additional incentives for community use of vacant lots (community gardens) and emphasized monitoring and enforcement. William Maxwell, a Cultural Heritage Board member and downtown business owner, told the council the ordinance could be up and running in 90 days and could generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in fees; he urged the council to abandon a separate proposed vacant-property ballot measure if the ordinance is adopted.

Council approved the ordinance and accompanying fee-schedule amendment by a 7–0 vote. The ordinance will be codified as Title 15, Chapter 15.34 and staff was authorized to take actions necessary to implement the registration program.