El Centro Municipal Code Div. 1 Duty to Register

The responsible party or its designated agent for an vacant property shall register the property with the enforcement authority within thirty (30) calendar days of the effective date of this ordinance or within thirty (30) days of the date on which the property become vacant. Registration is required whether or not the vacant property is distressed.

(a) Registration shall be filed on city-approved forms that require the following information, as well as any additional information deemed necessary by the enforcement authority and payment of a fee:

(1) The name, telephone number, email address, street address, and mailing address of the responsible party or the responsible party's designated agent, and the status of the party, i.e. the beneficiary, beneficiary's designated agent, legal owner, or legal owner's designated agent or heir. A direct contact name and telephone number for the responsible party.

(2) The name, telephone number, email address, street address, and facsimile number of any local property management or real estate company responsible for the maintenance, security, and marketing of the property.

(3) Whether there is a vacant structure on the property.

(4) If there is a vacant structure on the property, completion of that portion of the form regarding a plan and schedule for rehabilitation of the property.

(Ord. No. 20-01, § 2, 4-7-20)

(a) The initial registration of a property shall be effective for the duration of the calendar year in which it is made.

(b) For any property that is still subject to the registration requirements of this Division on January 1 of each year, the responsible party must submit a renewed registration by no later than January 31 of that year and for each year thereafter during which the property remains vacant/abandoned.

(c) Within thirty (30) calendar days of the date of the change, the responsible party shall update the information previously submitted to the city or otherwise required under this article, including but not limited to: a change in the identity of the responsible party, a change in the status of the property.

(d) If/when a registered property is no longer subject to the registration requirements of this article, the responsible party shall report this information to the enforcement authority within thirty (30) calendar days. Notwithstanding, the registration fee paid for that calendar year shall not be refunded.

(Ord. No. 20-01, § 2, 4-7-20)

The responsible party shall pay any fee set in an amount established by the city council to cover the costs of the registration, including, but not limited to the creation and maintenance of the registry and inspection and investigation of registered properties to ensure compliance with the requirements of the City Code as determined from time-to-time by resolution of the city council.

(Ord. No. 20-01, § 2, 4-7-20)

By registering vacant property, the owner confirms that it is aware of and will comply with the requirements for vacant property maintenance and security.

(Ord. No. 20-01, § 2, 4-7-20)

(a) Any responsible party that fails to comply with the registration requirements of this section may be liable for an administrative civil penalty in the initial amount of one hundred dollars ($100.00) per day escalating to three hundred dollars ($300.00) or five hundred dollars ($500.00)/day for each day of non-compliance,

(b) Such penalty shall be imposed by administrative citation subject to the appeal and collection provisions of City Code chapter 18, article XI.

(c) Every responsible party is personally liable for violations of this chapter regardless of any contract or agreement with any third party.

(Ord. No. 20-01, § 2, 4-7-20)