Vacant Property Registry

If you own a vacant property with exterior code violations in the city of Syracuse, you must register your property. The goal of the Vacant Property Registry (VPR) is to reduce blight in neighborhoods by motivating owners of dilapidated properties to bring their property back to productive use. 

Properties with no exterior code violations will not be required to register and are not subject to the fee.

Requirements

The Vacant Property Registry Certificate is valid for one year from the date of issuance and must be renewed annually as long as the building remains vacant. Properties that remain vacant are subject to an escalating fee schedule (click on the fee schedule tab to view).

Owners of vacant blighted properties can choose to do one of three things:

  • Option A: Rehabilitate and reoccupy - must submit a rehabilitation plan that will include a timeframe of completion no longer than 365 days after successfully registering their property
  • Option B: Stabilize and maintain - must submit a plan for securing the building that meets the City’s maintenance standards along with a reason why they wish to keep the building vacant
  • Option C: Demolish with private funds - allows owner to start the demolition process to completely remove the structure(s) using their own funds

Fee Schedule

Property Type Year 1 Year 2 Year 3 Each Subsequent
Year

Plan A or C

(rehab or demo)

$100 If no extension is granted,
then the maximum fee for the
relevant property type will be
charged each subsequent year.

PLAN B:

(stabilize and maintain)

1-3 unit residential

$250 $500 $750 $1,000
4-6 unit residential $500 $1,000 $1,500 $2,000
7+ unit residential $250/unit $500/unit $750/unit $1,000/unit

Commercial

(whichever is greater)

$1,000 or
$.05/sq. ft.
$2,000 or
$.10/sq. ft.
$3,000 or
$.15/sq. ft.
$4,000 or
$.20/sq. ft.

 

How to Apply

Online

Step 1.Access Application

  1. Click on the button below to access our Online Application Portal.
  2. Create an account and login using a valid email address and strong password.
  3. Click the new submission button located at the top right corner of the page.
  4. Select Permit Applications > Periodic Inspections > Vacant Property Registry.

Step 2.Complete Application

Follow prompts to provide information. No post office box addresses will be accepted in lieu of the domicile and/or street address for any of the information required in the application.

Step 3.Submit Payment

Pay by credit card by inputting your credit card information. Credit card fees apply. To pay by check or money order, pay to the order of the Commissioner of Finance with the name of the application and rental address in the subject line, and mail to:

Central Permit Office
Attn: Periodic Inspections
One Park Place 300 South State Street, Suite 700
Syracuse, New York 13202

Step 4.Schedule Inspection

After your application is submitted, you must schedule an inspection with the Division of Code Enforcement by calling 315-448-8695 or by email at codeenforcement@syr.gov.

Step 5.Confirm Request

A confirmation email will be sent to the email you created an account with or by calling 315-448-4700.

 

Apply Online

In Person

Step 1.Visit the Central Permit Office

One Park Place - Entrance located on East Onondaga St.
300 South State Street
Syracuse, New York 13202

Step 2.Access the Application

You may use the computer located at the front kiosk in the Central Permit Office to access the application online. If you have questions or need assistance, a staff member can help you.

Step 3.Complete Application

Follow prompts to provide information. No post office box addresses will be accepted in lieu of the domicile and/or street address for any of the information required in the application. 

Step 4.Submit Payment

Pay by credit card by inputting your credit card information. Credit card fees apply. To pay by check or money order, pay to the order of the Commissioner of Finance with the name of the application and rental address in the subject line, and submit to the front desk at the Central Permit Office.

Step 5.Schedule Inspection

After your application is submitted, you must schedule an inspection with the Division of Code Enforcement by calling 315-448-8695 or by email at codeenforcement@syr.gov.

Step 6.Confirm Your Request

A confirmation email will be sent to the email you created an account with or by calling 315-448-4700.

FAQ's

Why the Vacant Property Registry?

Two thirds of all vacant buildings in the city are tax-current and can't be addressed by the City's more aggressive tax collection efforts for transfer to the Greater Syracuse Land Bank. The Vacant Property Registry encourages owners to take responsibility for their properties by getting them reoccupied, selling them to someone who will, or demolishing them if they are not salvageable. Properties that cannot find a productive use in the short term will be better maintained, preventing further deterioration, and preserving them for a future use.

Why the Fee?

The City is currently not reimbursed for the cost of periodically inspecting vacant properties, a task which costs in excess of $400,000 per year. The fee is critical to encouraging owners to put their properties back into productive use, comply with the building codes, and to discourage real estate speculation and negligence. 

While other communities charge a flat fee for all property types, Syracuse’s fee schedule ties the fee to the size of the property. This is designed to have a measurable impact on commercial and larger properties, without placing an undue burden on the owners of smaller vacant properties. Since larger vacant properties are typically higher-value properties, this will ensure that the fee influences owners' development plans, encouraging them to actively market the property. This proposal of escalating fees tied to the type of property is based on the experience of Vacant Property Registration administrators in Binghamton, Albany, and Newburgh.  

 

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