News from the city of Oakland

The city of Oakland has launched a Blight Amnesty Program for qualifying homeowners with outstanding blight abatement charges.

The program, which runs through Nov. 30, requires payment of the original fees associated with the blight violation, but would forgive other fees for inspections and any related costs as well as fines, penalties and interest that have accrued on the original violation. In addition, applicable liens would be removed after all program requirements are met.

To be eligible for the program, homeowners must meet all of the following criteria:

• The property owner must have received a Blight Abatement Notice from the city’s Building Department regarding blighted conditions after July 1, 2006.
• The property that was subject of the Blight Abatement Notice was owner-occupied at the time of the Notice (unless a mortgage Notice of Default has been issued; see below for more details).
• The property owner has cleaned up the blighted conditions (rather than the city curing the blight).
• The property owner has paid the original blight abatement fee(s).
• The application and required documents have been submitted to the Blight Amnesty Program.

A homeowner who has received a mortgage Notice of Default and can document that unpaid liens are creating financial hardships that are contributing to the potential foreclosure of property also is eligible for the program if the owner abates the blighted conditions and pays the original fees by November.

Building Services staff has sent notices, fact sheets and program applications to property owners who were identified as eligible for the Blight Amnesty Program. A sample notification letter, the fact sheet and program application can be found on the city of Oakland’s website at http://bit.ly/QYfh0u.

Applications also may be picked up in person at the Inspections Counter at 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Second Floor, or by mailing a request to Blight Amnesty Program, Building Department, 250 Frank H. Ogawa Plaza, Second Floor, Oakland, CA 94612.

If a homeowner has questions about the program, he or she should contact the Amnesty Program Coordinator at (510) 238-2011 or via email to buildingserviceamnesty@oaklandnet.com. Eligible homeowners are encouraged to submit their completed application with supporting documentation as soon as possible in order to ensure timely processing.

Residential properties owned by lenders, banks, mortgage companies or their affiliates are not eligible for the Blight Amnesty Program.

The Oakland City Council adopted the Blight Amnesty Program at its meeting on Dec. 6, 2011. (83652 C.M.S.)