Lower Burrell cracks down on vacant building blight with $1,000-a-day fine for uncorrected violations

On the face of Lower Burrell’s new vacant property ordinance, the fines are hefty — $1,000 a day — for property owners who don’t fix unsightly issues on their vacant property.

But the fines will be levied in only the most severe cases, according to city officials, such as when the property is causing blight and the owner has been cited multiple times but remains uncooperative.

Other municipalities with similar ordinances have imposed a $1,000 fine, said Lower Burrell Council member Dave Stoltz, who helped to put together the measure. But the ordinance is not designed to cause financial harm to homeowners who are enduring a temporary problem, such as a death in the family.

Also, if a property owner puts their building up for sale, they are exempt from having to register for the ordinance.

When council discussed the penalties earlier this year, Mayor John Andrejcik said he didn’t want the ordinance to scare businesses from coming to the city.

But after refining the new ordinance and discussing the details over the past several months, council and mayor unanimously passed the measure Monday. It went into effect immediately.

“The ordinance is designed to make the city a more attractive place for more businesses to move into,” Stoltz said. “We don’t want somebody driving down Leechburg Road and seeing some boarded-up, ugly buildings.”

City council is open to public feedback if modifications are needed, he added.

The ordinance’s biggest requirement is that owners or creditors of all property types in the city must register with the city when their property goes vacant.

The initial registration fee is $150 for the first year. The first renewal is $300 if the building continues to be vacant for a year. The fee increases in subsequent years.

Exemptions to register include putting the property up for sale, natural disasters and mishaps, and remodeling activities.

Property owners who choose not to sell their vacant buildings have 60 days to register with the city.