We have received a copy of the St. Paul vacant property registration ordinance, which provides in part as follows:

Sec. 43.03(a) provides that "the owner shall register with the enforcement officer not later than thirty (30) days after any building in the city becomes a vacant building, as defined in section 43.02(7)."

The registration shall include a property description, names/addresses of the owner(s), lienholders and all parties with an interest in the property, a statement of the approximate time the building will remain vacant and a plan for returning the property to its appropriate occupancy status or demolition.

There is a $200 annual registration fee.

If the building that has suffered fire damage, it is exempt from registration for 90 days if the owner submits a written request to the enforcement officer including a statement of intent to repair and reoccupy the building in an expedient manner.

Sec. 43.02(3) defines an owner to include the owner or owners on the records of the Ramsey County Department of Property Taxation, those identified as the owner or owners on a vacant building registration form, holder of an unrecorded contract for deed and a mortgagee or vendee in possession. Any such person has a joint and several obligation for compliance with this chapter.

Unlike some of the other vacant property ordinances, St. Paul does not list a requirement to name a registered agent. The city was contacted and they advised that they will not release any blank registration forms and that the owner cannot register the property until contacted by the enforcement officer and a file is opened on the property. Note that this is not consistent with the ordinance provisions.