It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to have, own,
occupy, keep, maintain or permit any building, porch, awning, wall,
chimney, pole, wire or any other structure owned, occupied or controlled
by him to be or remain in such condition as to render any street,
alley or other public way or any public place dangerous for travel
or other public use by the citizens of the Town or any other person
lawfully using such streets, alleys or other public ways or places.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
DERELICT BUILDING
A residential or nonresidential building or structure, whether
or not construction has been completed, that might endanger the public's
health, safety or welfare and which, for a continuous period in excess
of six months, has been vacant, boarded up in accordance with the
building code and not lawfully connected to electric service from
a utility service provider or not lawfully connected to any required
water or sewer service from a utility service provider.
Because the Town has enacted a tax abatement ordinance that
enables it to abate the property tax attributable to derelict buildings,
it is authorized by Code of Virginia, § 15.2-907.1 to enact
this article for the demolition or renovation of derelict buildings.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, the Town may
proceed to make repairs and secure the building under Code of Virginia,
§ 15.2-906, or the Town may proceed to abate or remove a
nuisance under Code of Virginia § 15.2-900. In addition,
the Town may exercise such remedies as may exist under the Uniform
Statewide Building Code and may exercise such other remedies available under general
and special law.