Supervisors adopt new rules on blight
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| A blighted house in Fairfax County [Department of Code Compliance photo.] |
The
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved new rules that allow the county to
repair blighted homes at the owner’s expense. The county can also impose liens
to cover the cost of repairs.
Fairfax County Board of Supervisors approved new rules that allow the county to
repair blighted homes at the owner’s expense. The county can also impose liens
to cover the cost of repairs.
Under
previous rules, the county had the authority to demolish, but not repair, homes
that had been declared blighted.
previous rules, the county had the authority to demolish, but not repair, homes
that had been declared blighted.
The
BoS also at its Dec. 2 meeting repealed provisions it had adopted in 1996 that
imposed a more stringent definition of blight than required under state law.
Those
provisions required a property to meet all of these conditions to be considered
blighted: vacant and boarded up for at least one year, subject to complaints, no
longer maintained for useful occupancy, and dilapidated or lacking in normal
maintenance or upkeep. According to the BoS, the county now has more
flexibility to deal with blighted properties.
provisions required a property to meet all of these conditions to be considered
blighted: vacant and boarded up for at least one year, subject to complaints, no
longer maintained for useful occupancy, and dilapidated or lacking in normal
maintenance or upkeep. According to the BoS, the county now has more
flexibility to deal with blighted properties.
In
a related action, Fairfax County strengthened its rules for public health and
safety menaces. The new rules cover dilapidated buildings at risk of a
partial or complete collapse; unsecured, vacant buildings; and buildings that
are a danger to life or public welfare or both.
a related action, Fairfax County strengthened its rules for public health and
safety menaces. The new rules cover dilapidated buildings at risk of a
partial or complete collapse; unsecured, vacant buildings; and buildings that
are a danger to life or public welfare or both.