Title
Ordinance to Amend and Re-Enact City Code of Hampton, Virginia by Adding Chapter 9, Building and Development Regulations, Article I, In General, Section 9-13 to Conform to Current State Code Authority Regarding Vacant Building Registration.
Purpose
PURPOSE/BACKGROUND:
The 2024 General Assembly amended the Virginia Code 15.2-1127 to give localities broader authority to require registration of vacant buildings. Previously, only the owners of buildings that had been vacant for 12 months or more and were also derelict buildings could be required to register their vacant building. With the expanded authority, in addition to derelict buildings, localities can require registration by the owners of buildings that meet the definition of criminal blight or which have had a person living in them without the authority of the owner. The proposed ordinance implements this expanded state code authority.
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Recommendation:
Rec
Approve the ordinance.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Hampton, Virginia, that Chapter 9 of the City Code of the City of Hampton, Virginia be amended to read as follows:
Chapter 9 - BUILDING AND DEVELOPMENT REGULATIONS
ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL
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Sec. 9-13. - Vacant building registration; civil penalty.
(a) The owner of a building that has been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more and that meets one of the following, (i) is a derelict building; (ii) is determined to be the situs of criminal blight in accordance with section 24-112 of the city code; or (iii) it is determined that an unauthorized person is living in the building, must register such building on an annual basis.
(b) To register the building, the owner, or the owner’s agent for the building, must provide the following information to the code official:
(1) The address of the vacant building;
(2) The name, address, and telephone number of the owner and/or the owner’s agent;
(3) A detailed statement which est...
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