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Law aims to rid city of slums
By CAROL BROEDER/Arizona Range News
Public hearings may be held in the near future for the draft of an updated law to prevent slum areas in Willcox.
The Willcox City Council recommended at its March 15 meeting that a landlord with three rentals must obtain the city's business permit.
This requirement now falls under the "consequences of failure to register" section in the draft.
Unregistered property cannot be occupied. It is subject to immediate inspection, and any inspection costs can be assessed to the owner.
The law provides that if a cited owner registers within 10 days of the citation, the charge will be dismissed. Failure to register does not automatically designate the property as slum property.
The city's Slumlord Enforcement Guidelines are made up of the Arizona Slumlord Act and the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings.
Residential rental property is defined as property that is used solely as leased or rented property for residential purposes.
There are two primary duties for the owners of residential rental property - registration with the county assessor and maintenance of the rental property.
Complaints for failure to register rental property will be filed in city magistrate court. It is a civil infraction, punishable by a $1,000 mandatory fine, plus $100 per month the owner remains in violation, the proposal states.
Failure to maintain a rental property can result in its designation as "slum property," the guidelines state.
Slum property is defined as structurally unsound exterior surfaces, roof, walls, doors, floors, stairwells, porches or railings; lack of potable water, adequate sanitation facilities, adequate water or waste pipe connections; hazardous electrical systems or gas connections; lack of safe rapid egress; or accumulation of human or animal waste, medical or biological waste, gaseous or combustible materials, dangerous or corrosive liquids, flammable or explosive materials or drug paraphernalia.
The authority to designate a slum property rests with the city's building inspector.
Slum property is subject to immediate inspection and to annual inspections for three years, with the inspection costs assessed to the property's owner.
The proposal states that a slum property constitutes a public nuisance, and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal.
If the property owner fails to comply with the notice and order, and does not appeal the notice, the inspector will file a certificate of designation as a slum property with the Cochise County Recorder's office.
In the event the property is repaired, demolished, or otherwise abated, the building inspector will file a new certificate stating it is no longer a slum property, the proposal states.
The public may view the slumlord enforcement guidelines at the Elsie S. Hogan Library, Department of Public Services and Works, or the office of the city's building inspector.
The Willcox City Council recommended at its March 15 meeting that a landlord with three rentals must obtain the city's business permit.
This requirement now falls under the "consequences of failure to register" section in the draft.
Unregistered property cannot be occupied. It is subject to immediate inspection, and any inspection costs can be assessed to the owner.
The law provides that if a cited owner registers within 10 days of the citation, the charge will be dismissed. Failure to register does not automatically designate the property as slum property.
The city's Slumlord Enforcement Guidelines are made up of the Arizona Slumlord Act and the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings.
Residential rental property is defined as property that is used solely as leased or rented property for residential purposes.
There are two primary duties for the owners of residential rental property - registration with the county assessor and maintenance of the rental property.
Complaints for failure to register rental property will be filed in city magistrate court. It is a civil infraction, punishable by a $1,000 mandatory fine, plus $100 per month the owner remains in violation, the proposal states.
Failure to maintain a rental property can result in its designation as "slum property," the guidelines state.
Slum property is defined as structurally unsound exterior surfaces, roof, walls, doors, floors, stairwells, porches or railings; lack of potable water, adequate sanitation facilities, adequate water or waste pipe connections; hazardous electrical systems or gas connections; lack of safe rapid egress; or accumulation of human or animal waste, medical or biological waste, gaseous or combustible materials, dangerous or corrosive liquids, flammable or explosive materials or drug paraphernalia.
The authority to designate a slum property rests with the city's building inspector.
Slum property is subject to immediate inspection and to annual inspections for three years, with the inspection costs assessed to the property's owner.
The proposal states that a slum property constitutes a public nuisance, and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal.
If the property owner fails to comply with the notice and order, and does not appeal the notice, the inspector will file a certificate of designation as a slum property with the Cochise County Recorder's office.
In the event the property is repaired, demolished, or otherwise abated, the building inspector will file a new certificate stating it is no longer a slum property, the proposal states.
The public may view the slumlord enforcement guidelines at the Elsie S. Hogan Library, Department of Public Services and Works, or the office of the city's building inspector.
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