DEPARTMENT: Development Services
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Roderick Sanchez
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: City Wide
SUBJECT:
Absentee Property Owner Registration Program
SUMMARY:
On September 19, 2013, City Council approved an amendment to City Code by adding a new Absentee Property Owner (APO) registration program which went into effect on January 1, 2014. The new registration program will help ensure that one- and two-family dwellings owned by absentee property owners are maintained in accordance with the City's health and safety property maintenance codes. An annual $50 registration fee was approved with initial estimates of generating $40,000 annually to cover costs associated with the program.
This briefing will provide the Committee with an update regarding the APO registration program in preparation for a presentation to City Council which is required by ordinance on/before September 15, 2016.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
During the FY 2013 Budget Development Process, the code enforcement function was identified as a key priority area during the community budget hearings. Several City Council members expressed their concern about outcomes related to code enforcement policies and strategies. Neighborhood associations also shared specific concerns in light of their respective housing and property maintenance issues. In addition, San Antonio residents participating in the City Manager's biennial community survey rated the code enforcement function less favorably than in the prior survey. However, the City of San Antonio still ranked highest in comparison to other code enforcement functions in major Texas cities.
One concern repeatedly presented by neighborhood associations throughout the City was that residential dwellings owned by absentee property owners (i.e., owners who live outside of Bexar County) tended to have more instances of city code violations. A review of code violation data showed that property owners living outside of ...
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