A. 
Purpose. The purpose of this article requiring the registration of all vacant buildings, including dwellings, and the payment of registration fees is to assist the City of Altoona government, particularly the City of Altoona Department of Codes and Inspections, in protecting the public health, safety and welfare of citizens; to monitor the number of vacant buildings in the City; to assess the effects of the condition of those buildings on nearby businesses and the neighborhoods in which they are located, particularly in light of fire safety hazards and unlawful, temporary occupancy by transients, including illicit drug users and traffickers; and to require of the owners of such vacant buildings their registration and the payment of related fees; and to promote substantial efforts to rehabilitate such vacant buildings.
B. 
The provisions of this article are applicable to the owners of such vacant buildings as set forth herein and are in addition to and not in lieu of any and all other applicable provisions of this code and any other applicable ordinances and/or regulations of the City.
The requirements of this article shall be applicable to each owner of any building that is not a dwelling that shall have been vacant for more than 180 consecutive days and to each owner of residential property consisting of one or more vacant dwellings that shall have been vacant for more than 180 consecutive days. Registration shall be required for all vacant buildings, whether vacant and secure, vacant and open, or vacant and boarded, and shall be required whenever any building has remained vacant for 180 consecutive days or more. This article shall not apply to any building owned by the United States, the commonwealth, the City, nor to any of their respective agencies or political subdivisions.
A. 
Terms defined in other codes. Where terms are defined in this chapter and are defined in the International Building Code, Pennsylvania Uniform Construction Code, International Fire Code, Zoning Code, International Plumbing Code, International Mechanical Code, ASME A17.1 or the National Electric Code, such terms shall have the meanings ascribed to them in those codes.
B. 
General definitions. The definitions herein shall apply to all articles in this chapter unless otherwise noted herein.
BOARD OF APPEALS
The Code Appeals Board as set forth in Chapter 15, Article VIII, of the Code of the City of Altoona.
BOARDED
A building or structure subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be "boarded" if, in place of one or more exterior doors, other than a storm door, or of one or more windows, there is a sheet or sheets of plywood or similar material covering the space for such door or window.
CITY
The City of Altoona, Blair County, Pennsylvania.
DEPARTMENT
The City of Altoona Department of Codes and Inspections.
DERELICT
A building or structure that has at least three of the following conditions:
(1) 
Has been neglected as defined herein for a period longer than two years;
(2) 
Has been subject to one or more violations of the Code of the City;
(3) 
Has open and/or unresolved violations of the Code of the City; and
(4) 
Demonstrates significant conditions of neglect, disuse, or disrepair as determined by the Department.
DIRECTOR
The Director of the City of Altoona Department of Codes and Inspections.
NEGLECTED
A building or structure that has at least two of the following conditions:
(1) 
Has been vacant as defined herein for a period longer than one year;
(2) 
Has been subject to one or more violations of the Code of the City; and
(3) 
Demonstrates conditions of neglect, disuse, or disrepair as determined by the Department.
OPEN
A building or structure subject to the provisions of this section shall be deemed to be "open" if any one or more exterior doors other than a storm door is broken, open and/or closed shut, without a properly functioning lock to secure it, or if one or more windows is broken or not capable of being locked and secured from intrusion, or any combination of the same.
SECURED
A building or structure subject to the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to be "secured" if all means of potential ingress and egress including but not limited to doors, windows, and openings are secured a properly fastened sheet or sheets of plywood and/or any and all doors are locked with a chain and padlock.
UNDER ACTIVE RENOVATION
A building or structure shall be deemed under active renovation if ongoing, and continuous and substantive construction, renovation, and/or restoration where all such work is authorized by permits and any other necessary permissions and approvals granted by the City.
UNSAFE BUILDING OR STRUCTURE
An unsafe structure is one that is found to be dangerous to the life, health, property or safety of the public or the occupants of a structure by not providing the minimum safeguards to protect or warn occupants in the event of a fire or because such structure contains unsafe equipment or is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, structurally unsafe or of such faulty construction or unstable foundation that partial or complete collapse is possible.
VACANT
A building or structure shall be deemed to be vacant if no person or persons actually currently conducts a lawfully licensed business or lawfully resides or lives in any part of the building as the legal or equitable owner(s) or tenant-occupant(s) or owner-occupants or tenant(s) on a permanent, nontransient basis.
A. 
Registration statement. Each such owner shall cause to be filed a registration statement, which shall include the street address and parcel number of each such vacant building, the names and addresses of all owners, as hereinafter described, and any other pertinent information deemed necessary by the Department. The registration fee(s) as required by this chapter shall be billed by the Department and shall be paid by January 1 of each year. For purposes of this chapter, the following shall also be applicable:
(1) 
If the owner is a corporation or a limited liability company, the registration statement shall provide the names and residence addresses of all officers and directors of the corporation and shall be accompanied by a copy of the most recent annual franchise tax report filed with the Secretary of State.
(2) 
If an estate, the name and business address of the executor of the estate.
(3) 
If a trust, the name and address of all trustees, grantors, and beneficiaries.
(4) 
If a partnership, the names and residence addresses of all partners with an interest of 10% or greater.
(5) 
If any other form of unincorporated association, the names and residence addresses of all principals with an interest of 10% or greater.
(6) 
If an individual person, the name and residence address of that individual person.
(7) 
In no instance shall the registration of a vacant building and the payment of registration fees be construed to exonerate the owner, agent or responsible party from responsibility for compliance with any other building code or housing code requirement.
(8) 
One registration statement may be filed to include all vacant buildings of the owner so registering.
(9) 
If the status of the registration information changes during the course of any calendar year, it is the responsibility of the owner, responsible party or agent for the same to contact the Department within 30 days of the occurrence of such change and advise the Department in writing of those changes.
B. 
Local agent. If none of the persons listed, as above, is shown at an address within the County, the registration statement also shall provide the name and address of a person who resides within the County and who is authorized to accept service of process on behalf of the owners and who shall be designated as a responsible local party or agent, both for purposes of notification in the event of an emergency affecting the public health, safety or welfare and for purposes of service of any and all notices or registration statements as herein authorized and in connection herewith.
C. 
Registration fee schedule. The owner of the vacant property as of November 15 of each calendar year shall be responsible for the payment of the nonrefundable registration fee. Said fee shall be billed by the Department and based on the duration of the vacancy as determined by resolution of City Council from time to time.
D. 
Delinquent registration fees as a lien. After the owner is given notice of the amount of the registration fee due, except for those owners that have properly perfected an appeal as set forth herein and the owner fails to pay the amount due, said amount shall constitute a debt due and owing to the City, and the City may lien said property and/or commence a civil action to collect such unpaid debt.
A. 
One-time waiver of registration fee. A one-time waiver of the registration fee may be granted by the Director upon application of the owner, if the owner:
(1) 
Demonstrates with satisfactory proof that the owner is in the process of demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the vacant building; and
(2) 
Objectively demonstrates the anticipated length of time for the demolition, rehabilitation, or other substantial repair of the vacant building; or
(3) 
Provides satisfactory proof that the owner was actively attempting to sell or lease the property during the vacancy period.
B. 
Two-year waiver. Upon application by the owner and satisfaction of § 563-5A above, the Director may grant a two-year waiver of the registration fee if the owner meets the criteria for nonprofit organizations as defined by § 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
There shall be established by the Department rules and regulations for the implementation of this chapter. Such rules and regulations shall be reviewed and approved by City Council and be passed by resolution.