Condemnation

The City has a condemnation process for buildings that are not safe to live in.

Overview

The City condemns buildings for various reasons. Once we condemn a building, the owner can:

Take steps to address issues with the building
Register the building as vacant and create an agreement to rehab the building

On this page, we explain:

Why the City condemns buildings
What a building owner must do after a building is condemned
How a building owner can rehab a condemned building

1

Why the City condemns buildings

The City may condemn a building when:

It is vacant and boarded for more than 60 days. See Boarded buildings
An inspector finds it to be unsafe and cites specific hazards.
An inspector has assigned the property a score that qualifies it for condemnation due to general poor condition.
Utilities have been discontinued.
There is a housing hygiene problem.

In rare cases, the City could condemn one unit in a multi-unit building. This would only happen if the unit does not endanger the remaining structure.

2

What a building owner must do after a building is condemned

Once a building is condemned, the owner:

Must prove that problems have been fixed before anyone can live in or use the building
Will likely need to go through a code compliance process

See Code compliance

3

How a building owner can rehab a condemned building

Condemned buildings:

Often meet the City's criteria for the Vacant Building Registration (VBR) program.
Can be rehabbed through an agreement between the owner and the City.

Before the City gives out permits to do work on a vacant building, the owner must: