Pullman adopts ordinance to register long-term vacant downtown storefronts, OKs fee schedule

The Pullman City Council on March 10 adopted Ordinance 26-04, creating a new city-code section that requires owners or responsible parties to register ground-floor vacant commercial spaces in the C-2 central business district once a property has been unoccupied for six months.

RJ Lott, the city’s community development director, told the council staff had counted about 15 vacant ground-floor spaces in the C-2 district and explained a change to the draft aimed at reducing subjectivity in enforcement. "After 30 days, a responsible person must cover the entire window with single color paint or paper," Lott said, describing the revised window-display standard the council approved.

Council members discussed the ordinance as a tool to improve downtown appearance and encourage reoccupation rather than to raise revenue. The council next adopted Resolution R0926, which sets a tiered registration fee schedule modeled on another municipality: $250 the first year, $500 the second year, $750 the third year and $1,000 in the fourth and each subsequent year. The resolution takes effect March 10, 2026.

Council members said the fee schedule is intended as a starting point and agreed to revisit the amounts after the program produces data. "Let's just get out there and get the businesses and the buildings registered and start the process," one council member said.

The ordinance was read into the record and passed by voice vote. The council did not record a roll-call tally in the transcript; the mayor announced the motion passed.

What happens next: city staff will implement the registration process and a fee schedule that takes effect immediately; enforcement details and any future adjustments to the fee amounts will be considered by the council as metrics become available.