Southington, CT, amends blight ordinance to address dilapidated homes and vacant property

Southington, CT: An amendment to the City’s blight ordinance was approved, to help battle issues with dilapidated homes and vacant property.

To identify property owners, the City will utilize its local database, as well as any other means needed; such as their vacant property registration program.

All such violations will be sent via certified mail to the responsible party or property owner. If no action is taken within 60 days of the notification, an enforcement officer from the Zoning Department will proceed with needed actions for court proceedings for the violation and involvement of the Police Department.

The amendment’s first revision allows for a $100 maximum fine per violation of the ordinance, with each day a fine is unresolved constituting a separate and new violation, and each new separate violation being itself subject to the maximum $100 fine allowable per Connecticut law.

The second revision allows for blight complaints to now be submitted to the City without the entity submitting the complaint identifying itself via formal documentation; previously the entity had to sign the document.
 

The changes to the ordinance will go into effect April 1.

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