WILMINGTON NEIGHBORHOODS COALITION

What Was Proposed

Ordinance 19-026 has been revised and $250 fines for renters have been removed. Download the revised ordinance here.

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The part of the revised ordinance that defines who gets housing code violation fines can be found in the sections below:

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Page 11:

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ARTICLE I. - IN GENERAL
Sec. 34-1. - Definitions.​

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Owner means any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, shall have:
(1) Legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
(2) Charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, executrix, administrator, administratrix, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter, and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner.

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Page 15-16: 

Sec. 34-37. - Violations and penalties generally.
(e) With respect to vacant properties and rental dwelling units, any person owning a vacant property or rental dwelling unit violating any order of the commissioner of licenses and inspections based on the provisions of this chapter or any provision of any rule or regulation adopted by the department of licenses and inspections for the enforcement or implementation of this chapter. or violating any provision of this chapter, or any provision of any such rule or regulation shall be immediately subject to and liable for a civil fine of $250 for such violation and any applicable remediation costs. Each week's failure following any applicable cure period to comply with any order of the commissioner of licenses and inspections based upon the provisions of this chapter or the provisions of any rule or regulation adopted bv the department of licenses and inspections for the enforcement and implementation of this chapter, and each week's failure following any applicable cure period to comply with any provision of this chapter or any such rule or regulation shall constitute a distinct and separate offense and be punishable by a fine in the same amount.

Speak Up!

Progress has been made to improve the Blight Bill and focus it on holding owners of problem properties accountable. But more still needs to be fixed. For a list of changes that are still needed, see Community Concerns Matter. Call City Council at (302) 576-2140 and Ask Them to Vote NO on Ordinance ORD. 19-026 (Agenda Item #4654) until it is fixed!. Let's get this right!

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