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Abandoned or empty houses

How neighbors can find the owner, get the city involved, and deal with vacant homes and lots.

Before you rely on thisThese are older articles and answers, and laws and programs change and vary by place. For current rules, check with your city or county code enforcement office and the county property records office.

Start with these

  1. Guide

    Abandoned Buildings and Lots Require Swift Action

    Abandoned buildings and vacant lots threaten the integrity of neighborhoods. Learn about the best steps the community might take to find relief.

  2. Guide

    Abandoned Homes Threaten Neighborhood Stability and Image

    Learn how a neighborhood or concerned individual can address abandoned homes. Housing vacancy decreases property values and may increase crime.

  3. Visitor question

    Locating Vacant Properties and Owners

    Visitor Question: HOW DO I LOCATE VACANT PROPERTIES AND THEIR OWNERS (IN ORANGE COUNTY, CA)? THANK YOU. Editors' Reply: We don't know of a foolproof way

  4. Guide

    Vacant Building Registration Provides Data, Revenue, and Incentives for Building Re-Use

    Vacant building registration ordinances lead to better data, revenue to address related issues, and importantly, a big incentive to reuse buildings promptly.

  5. Visitor question

    How to get our city to condemn an empty building

    Visitor Question: I live in a very rural town in North Eastern Washington State. There is nothing for the children (or adults) to do. We have found the

  6. Guide

    Heir Property Owners Need Clear Title

    Heir property is common in some American neighborhoods. When a person dies without a will, heirs probably lack clear title. Houses in limbo harm neighborhoods.

  7. Guide

    Neglected Property Cleanups Often Become Difficult Projects; Make Them Easier

    Many neighborhoods find they need to organize neglected property cleanups. This happens in great suburbs and challenged neighborhoods. Here are some tips.

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Original guidance from A Good Community: How to Make and Keep It, owned and edited by Nancy Thompson (formerly Useful Community Development), shared with permission. Community Compass notes and updates are our own and have not been reviewed by Nancy Thompson.