NOTE: The purpose of this bill is to create mechanisms for local governments to identify and address delapidated and dangerous properties; requiring county assessor to conduct survey, and having staff receive training thereto; allowing empower county commissions and local governing bodies to compel removal of unsafe real property conditions; establishing process of designation, notice and procedural processes to allow removal of hazardous conditions; and allowing liens against properties for such costs.
WEST VIRGINIA LEGISLATURE
2022 REGULAR SESSION
Originating
House Bill 4824
By Delegates Dean, Evans, Bridges, Brown, Hansen, Haynes, Holstein, Paynter, Reynolds, Toney and zukoff
[Originating in the Select Committee on Coalfield Communities; Reported on February 14, 2022]
A BILL to amend the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, by adding thereto a new article, designated §7-28-1 and §7-28-2, and to amend said code by adding thereto a new article, designated §8-20B-1, all relating to unsafe real property; providing a process by which county commissions and municipalities may compel the cleanup of hazardous real property conditions; directing each assessor to identify obviously dilapidated, unsafe, or defective condition that renders it unfit for the intended use of the property or the structures upon it; providing that assessors staff receive training; directing the Division of Emergency Management establish a training course; providing a power to assert a lien if a real property owner fails to comply with a county commission’s or municipality’s hazardous condition resolution; providing notice ane a hearing an appeals process regarding unsafe condition determinations made; providing a process by which local governing bodies may compel the cleanup of hazardous real property conditions; providing a power to assert a lien if a real property owner fails to comply with a local governing body’s hazardous condition resolution; and providing a hearing an appeals process on unsafe condition determinations made by local governing bodies.
Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:
CHAPTER 7. COUNTY COMMISSIONS AND OFFICERS.
ARTICLE 28. POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE COUNTY COMMISSION AND ASSESSOR RELATING TO DILAPIDATED REAL PROPERTY
§7-28-1. Assessor’s duty to identify dilapidated, unsafe, or defective properties; training of staff.
(a) As part of the county assessor’s assessment of properties within the county, the assessor shall make note of, and identify, every property that is in an obviously dilapidated, unsafe, or defective condition that renders it unfit for the intended use of the property or the structures upon it. The assessor shall annually report all properties so identified to the county enforcement agency established under §7-1-3ff of this code for inspection by that agency and appropriate legal action under that code section or pursuant to.§7-28-2 of the code.
(b) Employees of county assessors, who are responsible for conducting field assessments of property, shall attend and complete a program of training, organized and provided through the Division of Emergency Management, for identification of conditions, and evidence of conditions, that render a property dilapidated, unsafe, or defective.
§7-28-2. Power of county commission to compel removal or cleanup of hazardous real property conditions.
(a) Whenever any building or structure is ruined, damaged and dilapidated, or any premise is covered with ruins, rubbish, wreckage, or debris, the county commission of which the county in which the property is located may, by resolution, find that the ruined, damaged, and dilapidated building, structure or premise is a hazard to the public comfort, health, peace or safety. They may then require removal of the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage or debris.
(b) A copy of the resolution shall be served:
(1) Personally, to the owner of record with the county assessor, by the county sheriff.
(2) If the owner cannot be served within the county, a copy of the resolution shall be posted on the building, structure, or premise, noting the date of posting on the first page. A copy of the resolution shall also be mailed by certified mail to the last known address of the owner.
(c) Within 15 days or receipt of personal service or service by mail and posting, the owner of the building, structure, or premise shall commence removing the building, structure, ruin, rubbish, wreckage, or debris. If the owner objects to the resolution, the owner may file a written objection with the county commission asking for a hearing before the county commission.
(d) If a written objection is filed as required in subsection (c) of this section, the county commission shall:
(1) Schedule a hearing on its resolution and the objection and notify the owner of the hearing date by mail;
(2) Consider all evidence for and against the removal resolution at the hearing; and
(3) Determine if its resolution should be enforced or rescinded.
(e) Any person aggrieved by the determination of the county commission may appeal to the circuit court by:
(1) Giving notice of appeal to the county commission within 10 days following the determination made by the county commission; and
(2) Filing a petition in the circuit court within 30 days after the determination made by the county commission. The circuit court shall hear the matter and enter judgment in accordance with its findings.
(f) The county commission may remove the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage, or debris at the cost and expense of the owner if the owner fails to commence removing the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage or debris:
(1) Within 15 days of being served a copy of the resolution; or
(2) Within 10 days after a hearing by the governing body which determined that the resolution shall be enforced; or
(3) Within 10 days after the circuit court enters judgment sustaining the determination of the county commission.
(g) The reasonable cost of the removal shall constitute a lien against the building, structure, ruin, rubbish, wreckage, or debris so removed and against the lot or parcel of land from which it was removed and shall be filed with the county clerk.
(h) Any person or firm removing any condemned building, structure, wreckage, rubbish or debris at the instruction of the county commission shall leave the premises from which the material has been removed in a clean, level, and safe condition, suitable for further occupancy or construction and with all excavations filled.
CHAPTER 8. MUNICIPAL CORPORATIONS.
ARTICLE 20B. POWER OF MUNICIPALITY REGARDING DILAPIDATED REAL PROPERTY.
§8-20B-1. Power of municipality to compel removal or cleanup of hazardous real property conditions.
(a) As used in this section:
“Municipality” means any municipality, as defined by §8-1-2 of this code, or any local consolidated local government, as defined in §7A-1-3 of this code.
“Governing body” means the body charged with the responsibility of enacting laws and determining public policy of the municipality, as defined by §8-1-2 of this code, or consolidated local government, as defined by §7A-1-3 of this code.
(a) Whenever any building or structure is ruined, damaged and dilapidated, or any premise is covered with ruins, rubbish, wreckage, or debris the governing body of the municipality of which the property is located may, by resolution, find that the ruined, damaged and dilapidated building, structure or premise is a hazard to the public comfort, health, peace or safety. They may then require removal of the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage or debris.
(b) A copy of the resolution shall be served:
(1) Personally, to the owner of record with the county assessor, by constable or county sheriff.
(2) If the owner cannot be served within the county, a copy of the resolution shall be posted on the building, structure, or premise, noting the date of posting on the first page. A copy of the resolution shall also be mailed by certified mail to the last known address of the owner.
(c) Within 15 days or receipt of personal service or service by mail, the owner of the building, structure, or premise shall commence removing the building, structure, ruin, rubbish, wreckage or debris. If the owner objects to the resolution the owner may file a written objection with the governing body asking for a hearing before the governing body.
(d) If a written objection is filed as required in subsection (c) of this section, the governing body shall:
(1) Schedule a date for a hearing on its resolution and the objection, notifying the owner of such date by mail;
(2) Consider all evidence for and against the removal resolution at the hearing; and
(3) Determine if its resolution should be enforced or rescinded.
(e) Any person aggrieved by the determination of the governing body may appeal to the circuit court by:
(1) Giving notice of appeal to the governing body within 10 days after the determination made by the governing body; and
(2) Filing a petition in the circuit court within 30 days after the determination made by the governing body. The circuit court shall hear the matter and enter judgment in accordance with its findings.
(f) The governing body may remove the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage, or debris at the cost and expense of the owner if the owner fails to commence removing the building, structure, ruins, rubbish, wreckage or debris:
(1) Within 15 days of being served a copy of the resolution; or
(2) Within 10 days after a hearing by the governing body which determined that the resolution shall be enforced; or
(3) Within 10 days after the circuit court enters judgment sustaining the determination of the governing body.
(g) The reasonable cost of the removal shall constitute a lien against the building, structure, ruin, rubbish, wreckage or debris so removed and against the lot or parcel of land from which it was removed and shall be filed with the county clerk.
(h) Any person or firm removing any condemned building, structure, wreckage, rubbish or debris at the instruction of the governing body shall leave the premises from which the material has been removed in a clean, level, and safe condition, suitable for further occupancy or construction and with all excavations filled.
Strike-throughs indicate language that would be stricken from a heading or the present law and underscoring indicates new language that would be added.
