Due to recent interim regulations implementing state legislation (effective July 2025) and pending changes to the Design Review program and the local codes implementing State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) requirements, SDCI's Tips, Director's Rules, and other guidance documents may not reflect the most current regulations or requirements. To ensure accuracy and applicability to specific code questions or permit applications, please contact us through our Send Us a Question website.

Tips

Summary: This Tip summarizes our authority relating to seriously deteriorated or dangerous buildings. In general, it is not illegal for a building to be left vacant as long as it complies with the City’s minimum standards for vacant buildings. See Tip 601, Unsafe and Vacant Buildings: SDCI's Inspection Program/SFD's Inspection Program, for more information about regulations affecting vacant buildings. For seriously deteriorated buildings, however, we may go through a process to declare the building “unfit for human habitation or other use” and require the owner to repair or demolish the building.

Date Revised: 01/24/2024

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