Phoenix may require registration for vacant properties

Phoenix may start requiring owners of vacant properties to register with the city. A key goal is to protect neighborhoods and ensure properties are being maintained.

Arizona Horizon spoke with Anamaria Ortega who is the Deputy Director of the Neighborhood Preservation Division for the City of Phoenix.

“We feel there is a great benefit to having the registry,” Ortega said. “It allows us to educate our vacant property owners on the requirements of the maintenance of their properties as well as provide them with resources on what is available for them.”

Ortega said that the registry will be online, so out-of-state vacant property owners will still be able to access it. Commercial properties, multi-family units with more vacant units than filled units and undeveloped land larger than 10,000 square feet vacant for more than 30 days will be required to register.

Vacant properties can lead to criminal activity and fires, according to Spencer Self, the Neighborhood Services Director. Self is proposing commercial properties, lots larger than 10,000 square feet, and residential properties with at least 50 units to register if vacant for more than 30 days.

“We are going to do some outreach. We have really great relationships with the community, residents and community leaders,” Ortega said. “We’re going to help enlist our neighborhood associations to get the information out as well as community meetings, social media and we will have a website.”

The vote will be in December and the council is expected to approve the registry.