There are a number of structures within the City of Billings that have been boarded up for long periods. These
boarded up structures are eyesores, devalue adjoining properties, pose a health and safety hazard and contribute to
the destabilization of a neighborhood. In most cases, the structures are abandoned but the taxes continue to be
paid on the property. The structures themselves are usually not maintained although the surrounding property may
be maintained to the minimum standards established by city code. This condition results from a lack of regulations
requiring boarded up structures to meet minimum standards. Existing code, such as the nuisance vegetation, junk
vehicle and open storage ordinances address the appearance of the property. The City's nuisance ordinance
(18-300, BMCC) requires dangerous stuctures to be secured or boarded up, but there is nothing that specifies when
the boards must be removed. Consequently, many of the dangerous structures that have been abandoned and
boarded up, remain so indefinitely.  The proposed Boarded Up Structures Ordinance 1) defines the terms "abandoned structure" and "boarded up"; 2) establishes standards and a timeframe for boarding up a structure; and 3) establishes penalities and a method for enforcement.  Council held a public hearing and approved the ordinance on 1st Reading on September 10.  If approved on 2nd Reading, the Ordinance will become effective on October 24, 2012.

Council may choose to approve the Boarded Up Structures Ordinance on 2nd Reading and put into place regulations to address vacant, abandoned and boarded up structures or may deny the request.

If approved, the Boarded Up Structures Ordinance may help preserve or increase property values in neighborhoods
that contain structures that have been boarded up for long periods of time.

Staff recommends Council approve the Boarded Up Structures Ordinance on 2nd Reading.