§ 179.101. Purpose and intent.

It is the purpose and intent of this Chapter to establish a process to limit and reduce the deterioration of property located within the City of Jacksonville, which property is in mortgage foreclosure or where mortgage foreclosure is threatened or imminent, or where ownership has been transferred to a lender or Mortgagee by any legal method. It has been determined that owner-occupied structures are generally better maintained when compared to vacant structures, even with a diligent off-site property owner, or structures that are primarily rental. Vacant structures or structures owned by individuals who are economically strained and unable to meet their mortgage obligations are often not properly or diligently maintained, which contribute to blight, arrest property values, and have a negative impact on social perception of the residential areas where they are located. It is a further intent of this Chapter to establish a registration program as a mechanism to help protect neighborhoods from becoming blighted through the lack of adequate maintenance of properties that are in Default or Defaulted, to help identify areas that may become blighted due to foreclosure trends in geographic areas of the City and to provide a mechanism to avert foreclosure actions through timely intervention, education or counseling of property owners.

(Ord. 2010-327-E, § 2; Ord. 2018-104-E , § 1)