Vacant or abandoned properties are community eyesores , and also pose threats as public safety hazards and shelters of criminal activity . These buildings often are deteriorated beyond repair , overgrown with vegetation , and act as potential dumping grounds for debris and other hazardous materials .

Legislation passed under Ordinance 194-09 ( Residential ) and Ordinance 182-14 ( Commercial ) require property owners responsible for these lots to register their buildings with DBI . The code calls for an annual registration fee , maintenance and security requirements . These two ordinances were developed to prompt owners to improve abandoned buildings , restore them to proper code , and have them returned to community use . Property owner information is required to be posted visibly on a vacant building .

Quarterly Vacant Commercial Storefront List Complaints

Inactive / Abated / Closed

16 Department of Building Inspection , Fiscal Year 2015-2016 Annual Report