Faraway owners of vacant nuisance homes in Hollister will have
to answer to the city if they don’t keep their properties up to
code.
Faraway owners of vacant nuisance homes in Hollister will have to answer to the city if they don’t keep their properties up to code.
The Hollister City Council unanimously approved an ordinance Monday calling for owners of vacant properties deemed as nuisances to enroll in a program requiring that they provide someone close by who can be reached, bi-weekly inspections and posting of a sign with the responsible party’s contact information.
Officials tightened their hold on such property owners in response to a vast increase in the number of vacant homes that have become nuisances and, sometimes, meeting places for criminal activity.
In probing such nuisance homes, the city has had a difficult time even locating property owners – oftentimes banks – sometimes based in other countries, Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless has said.
Council members approved the first of two required readings of the ordinance Monday. It would go into effect 30 days after the second reading.*
