The Department of Community Development’s Monthly Update December 2009 includes info on the recent public meeting concerning the Manchester Rezoning, the November 23 City Council vote to establish Union Hill as Richmond’s newest Old & Historic District, and information on what constitutes blighted property.

Defining Blight and State Code Requirements

The legal definition of a “blighted property” refers to any individual commercial, industrial, or residential structure or improvement that endangers the public’s health, safety, or welfare because the structure or improvement upon the property is dilapidated, deteriorated, or violates minimum health and safety standards, or any structure or improvement previously designated as blighted pursuant to § 36-49.1:1, under the process for determination of “spot blight.” 
 
A property is generally considered to be blighted if it meets the above definition and also meets the following conditions:

- Vacant and/or boarded for at least one year.
- The subject of complaints.
- No longer being maintained for useful occupancy.
- In a dilapidated condition or lacks normal maintenance or upkeep.
 
The Virginia Uniform Statewide Building Code (USBC) establishes minimum regulations to govern the construction and maintenance of buildings and structures.

The provisions of the USBC are based on nationally recognized model building and fire codes published by the International Code Council, Inc. The USBC also contains administrative provisions governing the use of the model codes and establishing requirements for the enforcement of the code by the local building departments and other code enforcement agencies.

You can view the Virginia Maintenance Code here.