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Huntingburg council reviews draft vacant/abandoned building ordinance, seeks feedback
Summary
Council members reviewed a draft ordinance to register and regulate vacant and abandoned buildings, including interior inspections, temporary boarding standards and a registration fee; council removed a proposed weekly owner‑inspection requirement and agreed to revisit the draft next month.
Council members on Oct. 1 reviewed a draft ordinance aimed at addressing vacant and abandoned buildings in Huntingburg’s downtown and other areas. The draft would create definitions to distinguish vacant from abandoned properties, require registration, set standards for temporary boarding and exterior appearance, and allow the city to inspect interiors under specified conditions.
Staff described proposed registration fees to help the city manage the program and said the ordinance would require property owners (including out‑of‑state owners) to designate a local representative reachable 24/7. Council members debated inspection frequency and removed an initial proposal requiring weekly owner inspections; the draft retains a registration and inspection framework with an initial 120‑day vacant threshold (staff said the threshold could later be reduced to 90 days once implementation procedures mature).
A resident who spoke during public comment praised the council’s effort to address vacant buildings and asked when the draft will be available; council members said staff will circulate the draft and solicit suggestions before returning for further consideration next month.
