City May Create Vacant Property Registry

Owners of vacant commercial property in St. Charles may soon have to register the property with the city.

The city council plans to introduce a bill Tuesday that would create a registry for commercial buildings that have been vacant for 90 days or more.

Property owners would have to register the property, which would then be inspected to make sure it makes minimum standards. Owners would have to correct deficiencies found. Owners would have to renew registration each year the property is vacant. 

Those who failed to register would be fined. 

“It’s an attempt to get a handle on buildings that owners don’t maintain and figure it’s someone else’s problem,” said Director of Community Development Bruce Evans.

Evans originally hoped to include residential homes on the registry, however council members were concerned it would be a burden on homeowners or a step toward requiring home inspections before houses are sold. 

However, other council members pointed out that in some areas of the city, vacant homes are being neglected.

“We’re watching demolition by neglect,” said Councilwoman Mary Ann Ohms, Ward-1, at a council work session.

Council members agreed to start with a registry for vacant commercial property and reconsider adding a residential registry at a later date.