Pennsylvania HB 1020: An Act amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and revitalization, further providing for definitions and providing for vacant and blighted property registration; and imposing penalties.

Bill Text

PRINTER'S NO. 1100
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
HOUSE BILL
No. 1020
Session of
2025
INTRODUCED BY TWARDZIK, POWELL, RABB, KHAN, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ AND
NEILSON, MARCH 24, 2025
REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,
MARCH 24, 2025
AN ACT
Amending Title 53 (Municipalities Generally) of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes, in neighborhood blight reclamation and
revitalization, further providing for definitions and
providing for vacant and blighted property registration; and
imposing penalties.
The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1. Section 6103 of Title 53 of the Pennsylvania
Consolidated Statutes is amended by adding a definition to read:
§ 6103. Definitions.
The following words and phrases when used in this chapter
shall have the meanings given to them in this section unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise:
* * *
"Vacant and blighted property." A blighted property that is
vacant.
Section 2. Section 6141 of Title 53 is amended to read:
§ 6141. [(Reserved).] Vacant and blighted property
registration.
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(a) Authorization.--
(1) A municipality may impose and collect, by ordinance,
a vacant and blighted property registration fee consistent
with this section on properties deemed vacant and blighted.
(2) A municipality choosing to enact an ordinance under
paragraph (1) may contract with a third-party entity to
execute the vacant and blighted property registry and to
collect the registration fees and fines allowed under this
chapter.
(3) A municipality with a vacant and blighted property
registration ordinance in place prior to the effective date
of this subsection shall not be required to amend the
ordinance to comply with the provisions of this section.
(4) A municipality with an existing program for vacant
and blighted property registration may continue to operate
the program without impacting any other law authorizing the
municipality to regulate vacant or blighted property.
(5) A municipality that elects to impose an ordinance
under paragraph (1) shall establish a process for the removal
of properties from the registry and shall disclose the
process for removal to the property owner at the time of
listing, including any requirement to bring the property up
to municipal code existing under other applicable State law.
(b) Listing required.--A municipality that elects to impose
and collect a registration fee under this section shall compile
and maintain a vacant and blighted properties list that
identifies by address and owner all vacant and blighted
properties in the municipality. Each listing shall contain the
date each vacant and blighted property was listed.
(c) Amount of registration fee.--A registration fee shall be
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imposed on the owner of a vacant and blighted property for each
year that the vacant and blighted property is not in compliance
with the municipal code, subject to the following:
(1) If the property owner brings the property into
compliance with the municipal code within 12 months or sells
the property to an entity that brings the property into
compliance with the municipal code, the fee shall be waived
in accordance with section 3 of the act of December 20, 2000
(P.L.724, No.99), known as the Municipal Code and Ordinance
Compliance Act.
(2) The fee shall be $500 one year from the date on
which the property was listed on the registry.
(3) The fee shall be $1,000 two years from the date on
which the property was listed on the registry.
(4) The fee shall be $2,000 three and four years from
the date on which the property was listed on the registry.
(5) The fee shall be $3,500 five through eight years
from the date on which the property was listed on the
registry.
(6) The fee shall be $5,000 nine or more years from the
date on which the property was listed on the registry.
(7) Property owned by the Federal or State Government or
a county, municipality, redevelopment authority, housing
authority or land bank, including one of their
instrumentalities, which is required to register under this
section is exempt from the registration fees under this
subsection.
(d) Exempt vacant and blighted properties.--A vacant and
blighted property shall be exempt from inclusion on the vacant
and blighted properties list under subsection (b), except as
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otherwise provided in paragraph (3), and from the registration
fees under subsection (c) if the vacant and blighted property
is:
(1) Under active construction or undergoing active
rehabilitation, renovation or repair and a permit to make the
property fit for human occupancy was issued, renewed or
extended within 12 months of the required registration date.
(2) In compliance with all Federal, State and local laws
and the owner or