VACANT BUILDING PROGRAM
Property owners of vacant or abandoned buildings are required to register their building by completing an application and submitting annual registration fees to the Department of Building Inspection pursuant to Ordinance 194-09 . In addition , they need to maintain and secure their property , to prevent blight and public safety hazards in compliance with Chapter 80 of the San Francisco Administrative Code , the California Environmental Quality Act and all other applicable building , health , fire and safety codes .
Number of Complaints Received 298 Compliant Properties 64
Non-Compliant Properties 118
VACANT STOREFRONTS PROGRAM
Property owners of vacant or abandoned commercial storefronts are required to register their vacant storefront by completing an application and submitting annual registration fees to the Department of Building Inspection pursuant to Ordinance 52-19 . This applies even if other units in the building are currently occupied . In addition , they need to maintain and secure their property , even if partially unoccupied , to prevent blight and public syafety hazards in compliance with Chapter 80 of the San Francisco Administrative Code , the California Environmental Quality Act , and all other applicable building , health , fire , and safety codes .
Number of Complaints Received 754 Compliant Properties 245
Non-Compliant Properties 481
AMENDED VACANT STOREFRONT ORDINANCE
In March 2019 , the Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to amend the Vacant Storefront ordinance through Ordinance 52-19 , which took effect in April 2019 . Through this ordinance , the following changes are now in effect :
1 . Registration of vacant storefront is required 1 . within 30-days of the commercial storefront becoming vacant or 2 . even if it is actively being offered for rent or lease ;
2 . Annual registration fee payment of $ 711 required at the time of registration ;
3 . Property owner is required to pay a penalty of four times ( 4x ) the annual registration fee ($ 711 ) for failure to register a vacant storefront within 30 days of the property being noticed by DBI ; and
4 . Annual report required from a licensed professional , which is engaged and paid for by the property owner , confirming the storefront ’ s interior and exterior has been maintained up to code . This annual report is due when the owner renews and pays the storefront ’ s annual registration .
18 Department of Building Inspection | Fiscal Year 2018 - 19 Annual Report