On October 15, 2019, the City of Columbia passed an ordinance requiring vacant buildings to be registered with the Columbia Police Department’s Code Enforcement Division.
Objectives of Ordinance
- Identify vacant properties
- Establish a local point of contact
- Create a mechanism to hold property owners accountable
- Discourage long-term vacancies
- Reduce blight and crime in the city
The ordinance requires vacant buildings to be registered and inspected annually. In addition, a designated local agent is required to be within 45 miles of the vacant building and a vacant building plan as part of the application process. The buildings will need to be maintained and secured as well.
There are several exemptions from the registration and the fees as outlined in the Vacant Building Registration Ordinance Highlights.
Buildings needs to be registered with the Code Enforcement Division within 120 days of becoming vacant. The 120-day period starts from the effective date of the ordinance; October 15, 2019. Any buildings that were vacant as of October 15, 2019, will need to be registered on or before February 12, 2020, if they are still vacant at that time.
Ordinance 2019-009 – Vacant Building Ordinance
Vacant Building Registration Application
Depending on the criteria, vacant buildings could undergo a demolition process.
In an effort to keep City of Columbia residents informed of current demolition projects, we are sharing the following information.
As of December 15, 2022, there are 35 proposed properties on the tentative demolition list; a list that is subject to change based on additional inspections, private purchases, or legal requirements.
The existing demolition process has been underway for quite some time in an effort to be thorough and meet all requirements. The final list of the proposed demolitions will be sent for City Council review in January.
More specifically, the City’s Code Enforcement Division has been diligently working to prepare properties for demolition with the assistance of the City’s American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds. Of the initial 52 properties proposed in the Spring, the City is closer to moving forward to demolish 35 properties as early as January 2023.
Justification for ARPA Funds
Removal of the structures make the properties more attractive for future development, namely possible affordable housing developments. The residential demolitions are already zoned for single-family housing. In previous years and according to the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC), single-family homes did not require asbestos surveys unless they fall under certain exemptions. The City does not agree that these single-family demolitions fall under any of the exemptions requiring asbestos surveys however, the City is adhering to DHEC’s requirements.
These 35 properties have all had asbestos surveys completed and are currently out to bid for demolition. There will be several other surveys to follow within the next several months as we complete the demolition process and have more properties ready for demolition.
As in a previous City Manager’s briefing note to the public: A demolition list is a working list and can change almost daily as additional properties are included or removed from the list; some that have title or code issues that have been abated by owners. The City does not own the properties.
After a thorough process, the properties were identified as being ready for demolition based on vacancy, abandonment, dilapidation or deemed a hazard.
As such and in keeping with a necessary process with City government, the procurement department, and contractors, demolitions follow a timeline that is also subject to change. Once a demolition site is identified and moves through a strict process including legal review and contractor bidding, it could take up to 90 days from solicitation to demolish a property. A delay is possible if additional inspections are required.
David Hatcher with the Columbia Police Department’s Code Enforcement Division says, “The Code Enforcement Unit takes this job very seriously. We appreciate residents’ concerns about blight in their neighborhoods. We share those same concerns. Our job affects people’s quality of life and the reward is knowing that we’re making a difference while also following the rules.”
For any questions about the ordinance or to be added to the mailing list to receive notifications, please call 803-545-4362 or email [email protected].