2001 Minnesota Statutes

     463.251 Securing vacant buildings. 

    Subdivision 1.    Definitions.  The following terms have 
 the meanings given them for the purposes of this section. 

    (a) "City" means a statutory or home rule charter city. 

    (b) "Neighborhood association" means an organization 
 recognized by the city as representing a neighborhood within the 
 city. 

    (c) "Secure" may include, but is not limited to, installing 
 locks, repairing windows and doors, boarding windows and doors, 
 posting "no-trespassing" signs, installing exterior lighting or 
 motion-detecting lights, fencing the property, and installing a 
 monitored alarm or other security system. 

    Subd. 2.    Order; notice.  If in any city a building 
 becomes vacant or unoccupied and is deemed hazardous due to the 
 fact that the building is open to trespass and has not been 
 secured and the building could be made safe by securing the 
 building, the governing body may order the building secured and 
 shall cause notice of the order to be served upon the owner of 
 record of the premises or the owner's agent, the taxpayer 
 identified in the property tax records for that parcel, the 
 holder of the mortgage or sheriff's certificate, and any 
 neighborhood association for the neighborhood in which the 
 building is located that has requested notice, by delivering or 
 mailing a copy to the owner or agent, the identified taxpayer, 
 the holder of the mortgage or sheriff's certificate, and the 
 neighborhood association, at the last known address.  Service by 
 mail is complete upon mailing.  

    Subd. 3.    Securing building by city; lien.  If the 
 owner of the building fails to either comply or provide to the 
 governing body a reasonable plan and schedule to comply with an 
 order issued under subdivision 2 within six days after the order 
 is served, the governing body shall cause the building to be 
 properly secured and the cost of securing the building may be 
 charged against the real estate as provided in section 463.21.  
 In the metropolitan area, as defined in section 473.121, 
 subdivision 2, the governing body may work with neighborhood 
 associations to develop and implement plans to secure vacant 
 buildings in a timely and cost-effective fashion.  The city may 
 use rehabilitation and revitalization funds in implementing this 
 section. 

    Subd. 4.    Emergency securing.  A city may provide by 
 ordinance for emergency securing of a building that presents an 
 immediate danger to the health and safety of persons in the 
 community. 

    HIST: 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1973 c 520 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1996 c 
 286 s 1