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The Blight Abatement Program
addresses citizen concerns about specific properties in their
communities which are abandoned, dilapidated, or otherwise kept
in an unsafe state.
When Was
the Program Started and How Does It Operate?
What
Properties May Fall Under the Blight Abatement Program?
What
Remedies Are Available Under the Blight Abatement Program?
What
Process Does the Program Follow?
How Long
Does It Take to Eliminate a Blighted Property?
Are There
Other Remedies Besides Enforcement?
Where
Can I Report a Property or Find Additional Information?
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When Was
the Program Started and How Does It Operate?
In November 1996, the Fairfax
County Board of Supervisors authorized the creation of a Blight
Abatement Program. The Program operates through the Department
of Housing and Community Development (HCD). It is established
under the Code of Virginia §36-49.1:1, as amended in 1998,
and other related sections. Go to Legislative Information to
search the State Code (start with Blight as search request).
After the owner is notified that the property
is blighted and if the property owner does not remove the blight
or present an acceptable plan to cure the blight within a reasonable
period of time, under powers granted under the Code of Virginia,
the County can declare, by ordinance, any blighted property as
defined in §36-49 of that Code, a nuisance and then compel
the abatement of the nuisance. If the owner or owners fail to
abate the conditions or nuisance, the County may do so and charge
and collect the cost thereof from the owner of the property in
any manner provided by law for the collection of state or local
taxes.
What
Properties May Fall Under the Blight Abatement Program?
Generally, to be considered for
the Blight Abatement Program, a property must meet all of the
following conditions:
1. It has been vacant and/or boarded for
at least one year.
2. It has been the subject of complaints.
3. It is no longer being maintained for useful occupancy.
4. It is in a dilapidated condition or lacks normal maintenance
or upkeep.
What
Remedies Are Available Under the Blight Abatement Program?
Among other remedies available,
the County may:
-Demolish the blighted structure(s) and
charge the owner for the cost thereof.
-Make repairs to blighted properties and charge the owner for
those repairs.
-Acquire blighted properties by eminent domain and then repair,
clear or sell properties with the requirement to eliminate the
blight.
What
Process Does the Program Follow?
-Properties can be referred to
the Blight Abatement Program at 703-246-5179 without the caller
being identified.
-The property is then added to the list of properties reported
to HCD as potentially blighted.
-The Blight Abatement Program/HCD will inspect each property
in turn to see if the property appears to be blighted.
-If the property appears to be blighted, County files are reviewed
for a history of violations and complaints.
-The owner will then be contacted and requested to eliminate
the blight on the property through voluntary compliance.
-If this informal process is not successful, the Blight Abatement
Program will begin a series of steps leading to elimination
of the blight through enforcement measures as follows:
-The property is referred to the Neighborhood Enhancement Task
Force (NETF) to consider whether the property meets the definition
of blight and what documentation supports the finding. (The
NETF is a committee comprised of staff from many County departments,
including HCD, the Health Department, the Department of Public
Works and Environmental Services and the Police Department.)
-The owner is informed of a preliminary determination and is
required to eliminate the blight or to develop a plan within
30 days to eliminate the blight.
-If the owner does not develop an acceptable plan and then carry
it out, the Blight Abatement Program staff will develop a blight
abatement plan (Plan) for the property.
-The Board of Supervisors holds a public hearing and adopts
an ordinance declaring the property a nuisance and compelling
abatement of the nuisance
-The Plan is then carried out through the Department of Housing
and Community Development.
-The owner is charged for the costs of abating the blight, including
county staff time and overhead costs.
* If the Plan calls for acquiring the property, additional steps
are necessary.
How Long
Does It Take to Eliminate a Blighted Property?
Through voluntary cooperation
of the property owner(s), eliminating blight can be completed
in as few as 60 days. Without cooperation of the property owner,
enforcement procedures may become a time-consuming, lengthy
legal process.
Are There Other Remedies
Besides Enforcement?
The County offers several programs
that may offer the property owner assistance to eliminate the
blight. These include Demolition loans, Rehabilitation loans,
Redevelopment loans, and Tax Abatement for Rehabilitation.
Throughout the entire process, HCD will
continue to work with the property owner to gain voluntary compliance
to eliminate the blight.
Where Can I Report
a Property or Find Additional Information?
Any questions or properties to
be referred should be forwarded to:
BLIGHT ABATEMENT PROGRAM
Department of Housing and Community Development
3700 Pender Drive, Suite 300
Fairfax, VA 22030-7444
Telephone: 703-246-5179
FAX: 703-246-5115
TTY for Hearing Impaired: 703-385-3578 |
E-mail the Blight Abatement Program Office
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