HB 5603
To fine and hold legally responsible land owners from out of state who neglect their land
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Sign in to take action- Introduced
- Passed House of Delegates
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Bill overview
This bill creates the Out-of-State Dilapidated Property Accountability Act to hold out-of-state landowners responsible for neglected properties within West Virginia. It requires landowners to register their property ownership with a local enforcing authority and provides a process for identifying and addressing dilapidated structures. Failure to comply with notices to repair or remediate can result in escalating civil penalties.
Key provisions
- Requires out-of-state landowners to register their property ownership with a designated agent.
- Defines ‘dilapidated property’ as unsafe, code-violating, or vacant for over 12 months.
- Mandates the issuance of written notices to landowners regarding dilapidated properties.
- Sets a 30-day deadline for landowners to remedy violations.
- Establishes escalating civil penalties for non-compliance, doubling every 30 days.
- Designates municipalities, county commissions, and code enforcement agencies as ‘enforcing authorities’.
- Requires landowners to provide a physical mailing address, in-state agent, and contact information during registration.
- Failure to register constitutes a separate violation subject to fines.
Who is affected
- Out-of-state landowners
- West Virginia municipalities
- West Virginia counties
- Property owners
- Residents of West Virginia
Notable changes
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