§ 18-153. Registration of certain properties required; identification of abandoned or vacant property.

(a)

Within ten days of filing of a lis pendens in connection with a default on a mortgage or similar instrument that secures debt upon real property, or within ten days of filing an action to foreclose upon a mortgage or similar instrument, all owners and mortgagees making such filings shall register the subject property with Pasco County.

The registration will require the owner and mortgagee to certify that the property has been inspected within the preceding 30 days, and to certify whether the property was found to be abandoned, vacant, or showed evidence of vacancy. The registration will require the owner and mortgagee to designate and retain a local individual or local property management company as the local agent responsible for inspecting the property in accordance with this article, for the security and maintenance of the property in accordance with section 18-154 of this article, and for timely updates of the registration.

All registrations must state the property address; the owners' names, mailing addresses, and telephone numbers; the occupants' (if any, and if known) names and telephone numbers; the mortgagee's name, mailing address, and telephone number. Registrations will include a local agent's name, mailing address, telephone number and email address. Mailing addresses may not be a post office box.

(b)

All property registrations are valid for one calendar year from the date of issuance. An annual registration fee in an amount established by the board of county commissioners of Pasco County by adoption of a resolution, shall accompany each registration form. Subsequent annual registrations and fees are due on or before the expiration of the previous registration. The county may charge an additional fee for subsequent annual registrations and fee payments that are not completed before the expiration of the previous registration. Any part of the registration process may be performed by an agent or independent contractor for the county, or by the tax collector or the clerk of the circuit court pursuant to an agreement with the county.

(c)

Once the property is sold, or the lis pendens and foreclosure action is terminated, the mortgagee must provide proof of sale or termination of the legal proceedings to the Pasco County Code Compliance Department or its designee; the registration and the mortgagee's continuing obligations under this article will then terminate unless the mortgagee obtains possession, ownership, and/or control of the property.

(d)

Any person that has registered a property under this article must report any update or change to the information contained in the registration within ten days of the change. The county may charge an additional fee for modifications to registrations.

(Ord. No. 10-49, § 3, 12-7-10; Ord. No. 15-14, § 3, 6-22-15)