Foreclosure Registry Maintains and Enhances Communities' Quality of Life

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Due to the economic downturn, neighborhoods have been adversely impacted by deteriorating abandoned and vacant homes undergoing foreclosures. To minimize the negative impact on neighborhoods, Miami-Dade County approved an ordinance creating a Foreclosure Registry to track single family dwellings that are subject to foreclosure actions. Through this Registry, residences that have become or are at risk of becoming vacant, overgrown or dilapidated are tracked and remediated to prevent blight or unsightly conditions, thus preserving property values along with residents’ quality of life and safety. It requires property owners, whether a bank or other lending institutions, to register the property with the county within 30 days of filing for foreclosure proceedings and pay a $125 registration fee to cover operating costs of records search, case management and inspections. Upon registration, the Building and Neighborhood Compliance Department conducts inspections to ensure the yard is being maintained to County code standards; swale area is maintained; the dwelling is secure at all windows and doors; and the pool barrier complies with the zoning code. A $500 citation is issued to entities failing to register the property. Since its inception, the county has received 6,986 Foreclosure Registry applications, resulting in $873,250 in revenue. Overall, via this Registry, residences that have become or are at risk of becoming vacant, overgrown or dilapidated are tracked and remediated to prevent damage or unpleasant conditions, thus preserving property valued along with residents’ quality and life safety.