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AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTER 17 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF PORTSMOUTH, VIRGINIA, 1988, BY AMENDING SECTION 17-132 THEREOF, AND BY ADDING SECTIONS 17-134(c) AND 17-136(4) THERETO PERTAINING TO VACANT BUILDINGS. BE IT ORDAINED by the Council of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia: 1. That Section 17-132 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, 1988, be amended and reordained to as follows: read Section 17-132. Violations of article. Except as otherwise provided herein, any person who viclates or fails to comply with the provisions of this article or the housing code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor. Each violation of a separate and distinct provision shall be a separate offense and each such offense shall be punishable by a fine of not more than two thousand five hundred dollars ($2,500.00); additionally, if the violation concerns a residential unit and if the violation remains uncorrected at the time of the conviction, the court shall order the violator to abate or remedy the violation in order to comply with the Code. Except as otherwise provided by the court for good cause shown, any such violator shall abate or remedy the violation within six (6) months of the date of conviction. 2. That Section 17-134 of the Code of the City of Portsmouth, Virginia, 1988, be amended by adding thereto paragraph (c) to be reordained and read as follows: Section 17-134. Registration and permits required. (c) The owner(s) of any building which has been vacant for a ccntinuing period of twelve months or more shall register such building annually with the Director or his designee by certifying to the Director or his designee that the building is secure against unauthorized entry. The permit must be obtained or renewed annually while the building remains vacant or unoccupied. A permit shall be issued by the Director or his designee upon receipt by the Director or his designee of a letter of certification. A new registration shall be required whenever the information provided in the initial registration changes. The new registration shall be filed with the Director or his designee within ten (10) days after such change. Any person who fails to register a building as required by this paragraph shall be subject to a civil penalty of fifty and 00/100 ($50.00) Dollars.