BLIGHTED PROPERTY
Any building, structure, or parcel of land with any the following conditions:
A. 
Has become dilapidated as documented by Inspectional Services;
B. 
Has become a fire hazard as determined by the Fire Department; or
C. 
Poses a serious threat to the safety, health, or general welfare of the public as documented by Inspectional Services and/or the Department of Health and Human Services.
Any member of the Fire Department, Inspectional Services, or the Department of Health and Human Services is authorized to investigate the existence of a blighted property and, if appropriate, to issue a violation notice and an order to take corrective action.
If a violation of this blighted property division is found to exist, the responsible party shall be served with a violation notice identifying the basis for the violation and an order to take corrective action, which shall provide the responsible party with a description of the action needed to bring the property into compliance. Service shall be valid if made in person, via certified mail to the property owner of record, or affixed to the front door of the property in compliance with MGL c. 40U, § 9, if the responsible party is residing at the subject property.
A. 
The order to take corrective action shall provide the owner with a description of the action needed to bring the property into compliance. The owner has 30 days in which to comply with the order to take corrective action unless the issuing department has agreed, in writing, to additional time.
B. 
If the owner fails to take the required corrective action specified in the order to take corrective action and, in the exclusive judgment of the City, a failure to take corrective action would likely endanger the health, safety, or welfare of the public, then the City may undertake corrective action. All costs associated with the corrective action, including reasonable attorney's fees, shall constitute a debt in favor of the City and against the owner of the repaired structure.
An owner who fails to bring the blighted property into compliance within 30 days shall be subject to the general penalty set forth in § 1-15 of the Code of the City of Fall River or the noncriminal procedure set forth in §§ 2-1021 through 2-1025 of the Code.
If Inspectional Services or the Department of Health and Human Services determines that the blighted property is beyond repair, they may issue an order that the building or structure be demolished. The owner has 60 days to comply with the order to demolish the building or structure. If the owner fails to comply with the order to demolish within 60 days and if, in the judgment of Inspectional Services or the Department of Health and Human Services, the condition of the blighted property constitutes an imminent danger to the health, safety, or welfare of the general public, then the City may demolish the building or structure. All costs associated with the demolition, including attorney's fees, shall constitute a debt in favor of the City and against the owner of the blighted property.
A. 
Each violation of any provision of this division shall be considered a separate offense.
B. 
Each day a violation continues shall constitute a separate offense.
C. 
Failure to pay any fine arising from enforcement of this division shall constitute a debt in favor of the City of Fall River and the City is authorized to place a lien on the property if the debt is not paid within 60 days.
D. 
Nothing in this section is intended to preclude the City from instituting a civil or criminal judicial action, including a demand for injunctive relief, to enforce the provisions of this division.