San Francisco City Council pushes for Vacant Property Registration amendments

San Francisco, CA: A technicality where a structure with an occupied second floor and a vacant commercial storefront below is not considered a vacant or abandoned building – according to Building Code Section 103A.4 et. seq., the VABO – might be revised by new proposals from the city and county.

The ordinance proposes within 30 days of a commercial storefronts becoming vacant or abandoned, owners must “describe the methods by which the owner has secured the Commercial Storefront against unauthorized entry, declare any future plans for the Commercial Storefront, state whether there is fire and liability insurance coverage, and provide such other information as the Department may require. A registration fee shall be due 270 days after the Commercial Storefront has become vacant or abandoned. The registration payment deadline will serve as the date for calculating an annual renewal fee which shall be paid every year the Commercial Storefront remains Vacant or Abandoned. However, if the owner rents the Commercial Storefront to a tenant who occupies the premises in a manner that complies with all provisions of state and local law prior to the registration payment deadline, the Commercial Storefront shall be removed from the Department’s registry and the owner need not pay the registration fee.”

Such ordinance changes were originally proposed May 5, 2009. Initial response to the changes were of non-support, with the Department of Building Inspection being given reign over enforcing the existing requirements. However, discussion and evaluation of blight and effect on the city continues to be a topic, and the most recent amendment shows the issue is not going away.

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