2025 SESSION
INTRODUCED
25102101D
HOUSE BILL NO. 1826
Offered January 8, 2025
Prefiled January 6, 2025
A BILL to amend and reenact 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia, relating to vacant building registration; civil penalty.
PatronSimonds
Committee Referral Pending
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia:
1. That 15.2-1127 of the Code of Virginia is amended and reenacted as follows:
15.2-1127. Vacant building registration; civil penalty.
Any county, city, or town, by ordinance, may require the owner or owners of buildings that have been vacant for a continuous period of 12 months or more and (i) that meet the definition of "derelict building" under 15.2-907.1, (ii) that meet the definition of "criminal blight" under 15.2-907, or (iii) in which a locality has determined a person is living without the authority of the owner or owners to register such buildings on an annual basis and may impose an annual registration fee not to exceed $100 $500 to defray the cost of processing such registration. The registration of buildings shall be on forms designated by the locality and filed with the agency designated by the locality. Failure to register shall be a $200 $750 civil penalty; however, failure to register in conservation and rehabilitation districts designated by the governing body, or in other areas designated as blighted pursuant to 36-49.1:1, shall be punishable by a civil penalty not exceeding $400 $1,000. Notice shall be mailed to the owner or owners, at the address to which property tax notices are sent, at least 30 days prior to the assessment of the civil penalty.