The Bisbee City Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to establish building and property regulations for defining and determining vacant buildings and allowing for enforcement of maintenance and owner compliance in an effort to reduce blight and hazardous conditions. The new ordinance also provides for imposing fines for those who chose not to comply.

Ordinance O-25-06 would amend Chapter 7 of the city code establishing a new article, article 7.15, vacant building and property regulations which would allow the city building official to determine if a building was vacant, a boarded building and a public nuisance and would also outline the responsibilities of the property owner.

According to information in the agenda, “under this new article, the Building Official is authorized to determine whether a building is vacant, notify the owner, and require registration and submission of a vacant building plan detailing how the property will be maintained, repaired, or secured.”