A. The owner of any vacant or abandoned property shall, within 30 days after the building becomes vacant property or within 30 days after assuming ownership of the vacant property, whichever is later, file a registration statement for each such vacant property with the Town of Newton Zoning office on forms provided by the Town of Newton for such purposes. The registration shall remain valid until the end of the calendar year. The owner shall be required to renew the registration annually, no later than January 31, as long as the building remains vacant property and shall pay a registration or renewal fee to the Town Zoning office in the amount prescribed in § 41-12 of the Code of the Town of Newton for each vacant property registered. 

B. Any owner of any building that meets the definition of "vacant property" or “abandoned property” having a separate block and lot number by the Town shall be registered separately.

C. The owner shall notify the Town of Newton Zoning office within 30 days of any change in the registration information by filing an amended registration statement on a form provided by the Town of Newton for such purpose.

D. The registration statement shall be deemed prima facie proof of the statement therein contained in any administrative enforcement proceeding or court proceeding instituted by the Town of Newton against the owner or owners of the building.

E. “Actively Marketed Vacant Properties”, “Properties Under Repair or Renovation” and “Seasonally Occupied Properties” as defined in this Chapter shall be required to file a registration statement, but shall be exempt from payment of a registration fee.

Vacant and Abandoned Property Registration