Jackson, TN, vacant property registration ordinance now in effect
Jackson, TN: City Council approved a vacant property registration ordinance,
to go into effect upon passage.
The ordinance requires any commercial, industrial, or manufacturing property deemed “vacant” to register with the City; residential properties are currently not included in the ordinance parameters.
Registration must include current contact information for owners as well as parties responsible for the upkeep of the property if the owners do not reside in Madison County, TN; obtain and maintain
$1 million liability insurance for the property; maintain the property to Chapter 13 of the City Code; and provide a “plan” to be approved by the City for what will occur with the property during the year.
Registration is due within 30 days of vacancy or notification from the City, or within 60 days if the property was already vacant at the time the ordinance went into effect; and any changes to registration information provided are due within 7 days.
Registration is good until Dec. 31 of the given year, and must be renewed by Jan. 15 each year of vacancy.
The registration fees are: $400 for the 1st registration; $800 for the 2nd; $1,600 for the 3rd; $3,200 for the 4th, and $6,400 for the 5th and any subsequent annual registrations for a given property.
Renewal fees may be reduced by 50 percent if at the time of renewal the owners can show the property to have no code violations and is in compliance with all codes applicable. Fees may be waived for up to 12 months if the property can be shown to be actively marketed at a reasonable rate.
Registration and renewal fees paid for a given year shall be returned in full if within the same year of the given fee being paid the property is free from any code violations and reoccupied.
All delinquent fees are subject to a 50 percent or $1,000 surcharge, whichever is less. All violations of code for the property are subject to $50 per violation instance, with each day of continued violation for a given instance constituting a new violation.
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