Marsha Chartrand

Vacant building ordinance passes

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Not only downtown Manchester, but residential and industrial buildings, will be affected by the new vacant building ordinance.

“It’s a safety issue, not a punitive measure,“ said Village President Pat Vailliencourt after Village Council voted unanimously on Monday, August 1, to ratify the new Vacant Building Safety Ordinance and a related Municipal Civil Infraction Ordinance.

According to the newly passed ordinance, which becomes effective on August 30, vacant property is defined as a residential, commercial, or industrial structure that remains unoccupied for a period in excess of 30 days. In the case of residential property, “vacant“ does not mean property that is temporarily unoccupied while the residents are away on vacation, tending to personal matters, or business; however, if said property is offered for sale or lease, it does constitute vacant property and is not exempt from the requirements of the ordinance.

In the commercial district, for properties of more than one story, an unoccupied street-level story constitutes a vacant building. Additionally, a structure is considered “vacant“ if a lawful business that once was open for regular business hours ceases operation for more than 30 days.

The ordinance requires registration of vacant properties every six months and an inspection every six months to ensure its compliance with state laws and village codes. The property owner is required to have insurance, and also to make any and all repairs to the property within 60 days, if such are discovered during an inspection.

Registration of any currently vacant property should be made within 30 days of the effective date of the ordinance. Subsequently, vacant properties should be registered within 30 days of the vacancy. The initial registration fee is $50, and the inspection fee will be $65 each six months. The Western Washtenaw Construction Authority will provide the inspections on behalf of the Village.

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