Bill > SB306

This bill allows Class 1 municipalities, which are the largest cities in Alabama, to create programs requiring owners of vacant properties to register them. The bill defines "vacant" as a property lacking habitual human presence or where business or residential operations have ceased for 90 consecutive days, and "evidence of vacancy" includes conditions like overgrown vegetation, trash accumulation, or visible deterioration. Owners must register their vacant properties within 30 days of them becoming vacant or of acquiring them, providing contact information for themselves and a local agent if they reside out of state. Municipalities can charge annual registration fees, with higher fees for commercial properties, and these fees can be doubled for subsequent years, though prorated refunds are possible if the property becomes occupied. The bill also outlines various exemptions from registration and fees, such as for seasonal residences, properties under repair, or those undergoing legal proceedings, and requires owners to submit plans for restoration. Importantly, the bill emphasizes that these registration programs are intended to help municipalities address the problems caused by vacant properties, such as blight and increased crime, by creating a database of owners, ensuring compliance with property codes, and collecting fees to offset the costs incurred by the municipality for inspections, nuisance abatement, and emergency services. The bill also grants municipalities the authority to impose fines for non-compliance, and unpaid fees and fines can become a lien on the property, taking precedence over most other liens.

Government Affairs

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