(Washington, DC) With new authorities, the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA) is moving aggressively to identify, register, classify and secure all vacant properties in the District.

A ramped-up vacant property team is canvassing District neighborhoods daily, identifying and inspecting these nuisance properties.

Abandoned and vacant properties can hurt residents and their surrounding neighborhood. They may impair the health and welfare of residents and businesses by harboring rodents, pests, trash and debris. In some cases, they encourage criminal activity or pose a fire hazard.

Audits of all DC vacant properties–registered and unregistered–is part of this team's vital mission. DCRA will immediately secure unenclosed vacant property. The agency will then place a lien on the property for the cost of enclosing the building.

A massive reclassification of vacant properties is also underway. A property that has been classified as vacant is taxed at a different rate than other property. DCRA now has the sole authority to declare these properties as vacant.

The owner of a vacant property must keep it free of trash, debris, and overgrown weeds. Vacant buildings must be kept secure, with no means of entry, and the structure must not pose a threat to the general welfare of the public.