Stanley P. Brozana Jr., 72 – Served 37 Years as Orwigsburg Police Chief
Rep. Tim Twardzik (R-123) has re-introduced legislation in the State House of Representatives that would allow municipalities to create a registry of blighted properties and impose fines on their owners.
Earlier this year, he circulated a co-sponsorship memo among House members looking for support for his Vacant Property Registration Act.
Now known as HB 1020, this bill allows Pennsylvania municipalities to create a registry for vacant and blighted properties and charge property owners annual fees.
Municipalities adopting such a registry may establish a progressively increasing annual registration fee structure for property owners whose vacant properties remain non-compliant with local building codes.
The fee structure begins at $500 in the first year, then rises incrementally each year the property remains vacant and blighted, eventually reaching up to $5,000 annually after nine years or more.
Property owners can avoid these fees if they bring their properties into compliance with municipal codes within one year of listing or sell the property to someone else who does so within that period. The municipality must clearly communicate the requirements for removing a property from the registry at the time it is listed.
Certain properties are exempt from being listed or assessed fees under specific circumstances. These exemptions include properties under active repair or construction with valid permits, properties actively marketed for sale or rental within specified time limits (one year for residential, two years for commercial properties), and properties whose owners face economic hardship or legal delays, such as probate proceedings or litigation.
Additionally, properties owned by active-duty military personnel and those owned by government or certain public authorities are exempt.
Property owners have a defined right to appeal municipal decisions regarding their property’s inclusion on the registry or related fees and penalties.
Penalties for failing to pay required registration fees include daily fines—$25 per day for residential properties and $50 per day for commercial or industrial properties. Any unpaid fees and penalties become liens against the property, enforceable in the same manner as other municipal claims.
The overall purpose of this legislation is to empower local municipalities to proactively address neighborhood blight and encourage owners of vacant, deteriorating properties to either restore their properties to productive use or transfer ownership to someone who will do so.
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