Owners of vacant homes must pay fee

McKeesport now requires owners of vacant homes or mortgage companies who own foreclosed homes to register them with the city for a semiannual fee of $400.

Council unanimously approved the amendment to a city ordinance on Oct. 2.

“This comes down to try to enhance what we can do as far as bank foreclosures,” Mayor Michael Cherepko said. “It’s just part of our blight and the ongoing issue we face every day.”

Under the amended ordinance, all vacant property owners and mortgage companies owning foreclosed properties must register with the city and pay a nonrefundable $400 semiannual fee per property.

Maintenance and security requirements also are outlined in the ordinance.

It states that all vacant and/or foreclosed properties shall be kept free of weeds, overgrown brush, dead vegetation, trash, junk, debris, building materials, buildup of newspapers and flyers, notices, discarded personal items, small appliances, printed material or any other items that give the appearance that the property is abandoned.

Properties shall be free of graffiti or similar markings by removal or painting over with an exterior grade paint that matches the color of the structure, according to the ordinance.

The ordinance also includes language about yard maintenance, landscaping and grass cutting.

Additionally, such properties must be kept secure so unauthorized people aren’t let in. Security measures can include closing and locking all windows, doors and gates and repairing broken windows doors and gates.