What is an “At Risk Property”?

On November 1, 2012 ordinance 15026 was passed by City Council. This ordinance requires the registration for “Abandoned Real Property”. The purpose is to address the deterioration and Blight of City Neighborhoods caused by the increasing amount of abandoned, foreclosed or distressed real property located within the city. The registration is a yearly cost and requires maintenance of At-Risk Properties that are served by a mortgagee. With the registration it allows for the enforcement and accountability of the nuisances that vacant properties may impose. The process will identify the contact person to minimize the time to address complaint or “Applicable Code” violations thus limiting a possible Blighted property.

“Abandoned Real Property” – Means any real property located in the City, whether vacant or occupied that is defaulted on a mortgage, has had a lis pendens filed against it by the lender holding a mortgage on the property, is subject to an ongoing foreclosure action by the lender, is subject to an application for a tax deed or pending tax assessor’s lien sale, or has been transferred to the lender under a deed in lieu of foreclosure. The designation of a property as abandoned, shall remain in place until such time as the property is sold and transferred to a new owner, the foreclosure action has been dismissed, and any default on the mortgage has been cured.

“Applicable Code” means to include, but not limited to, the City’s Zoning code, the City’s Property Rehabilitation and Maintenance code, Neighborhood Improvement Zone, solid waste ordinance, Residential and Commercial recycling or and Pennsylvania Building and Fire Codes.

The Registration fee is $200.00 annually.

How to Register

Each property is required to pay a yearly fee of $200.00 payable by check or money order. (Online payments are not available at this time).
Please fill out the registration form and email it to register@allentownpa.gov or mail it to:

C/O Abandoned Property Registration Building Standards and Safety Department
435 Hamilton Street
Room 3rd Floor
Allentown, PA 18101

Deregistration of Properties

If a property needs to be deregistered a notification of the deregistration must be received within 10 days of the requirement. Please fill out the deregistration request form and send email it to register@allentownpa.gov or mail it to:

C/O Abandoned Property Registration Building Standards and Safety Department
435 Hamilton Street
Room 3rd Floor
Allentown, PA 18101

Contact

Call 610-437-7694 or email register@allentownpa.gov for any questions.