2007 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.
History: 1973 c 123 art 5 s 7; 1973 c 520 s 1; 1986 c 444; 1996 c 286 s 1