Abandoned Registration

It is the purpose and intent of the Town Commission to establish a process to limit and reduce the amount of abandoned personal and real property located within the Town. It is the Town Commission's further intent to specifically establish an abandoned residential property program as a mechanism to protect residential neighborhoods from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance and security of abandoned properties.

Any mortgagee who holds a mortgage on real property located within the town shall perform an inspection of the property that is the security for the mortgage, upon default by the mortgagor, prior to the issuance of notice of default. If the property is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy, it shall be deemed abandoned and the mortgagee shall, within ten days of the inspection, register the property with the growth management director or his or her designee, on forms provided by the town.

If the property is occupied but remains in default, it shall be inspected by the mortgagee or his designee monthly until:

1. The mortgagor or other party remedies the default
2. It is found to be vacant or shows evidence of vacancy at which time it is deemed abandoned, and the mortgagee shall, within ten days of that inspection, register the property with the town manager, or his or her designee, on forms provided by the town.

Registration pursuant to this section shall contain the name of the mortgagee, the direct mailing address of the mortgagee and in the case of a corporation or out-of-area mortgagee, the local property management company responsible for the security and maintenance of the property.

An annual registration fee in the amount of $150.00 shall accompany the registration form. Registration fees will not be prorated. The registration will be valid for the calendar year, or the remaining portion of the calendar year, in which the registration was initially required. Subsequent registration and fees are due January 1 of each year and must be received no later than January 31 of the year due.