The Neighborhood Blight Reclamation and Revitalization Act (the “Act”) – signed into law on October 27, 2010, effective on April 25, 2011 – empowers municipalities to take legal action against owners of deteriorating properties and deny municipal permits in certain circumstances. The Act specifically provides for action against property owners whose property is in serious code violation or whose property is determined to be a public nuisance. The Act also provides for municipalities to deny municipal permits (included building permits and zoning approvals) to property owners who have other property within the municipality in similar violation or who are behind in taxes or other municipal service accounts such as water, sewer or refuse collection. This tool allows municipalities to hold property owners accountable for existing delinquencies or serious violations on other properties. Property owners must remedy existing violations and/or delinquencies with regard to other property they own in the municipality prior to being granted municipal permits for future projects.
For a full copy of the bill’s provisions, click here and search by Senate Bill No. 900 – SB 900.
