Vacant Property Registry Enforcement
At a glance
- What: Concern that many unoccupied houses are not on the city's vacant-property registry and that some are open to trespass, raising safety risks as cold weather approaches.
- Where it stands: Alderwoman Notariano raised it at the Committee of the Whole on October 13, 2026; city staff agreed to review a list she and a zone manager compiled. No ordinance or vote.
- Next: Whether the listed properties are registered or secured before winter.
Discussion
- Notariano said many such houses in her ward are not on the registry, some are used for storage, and some are opened regularly by squatters.
- The corporation counsel said an inspector must cite a property before it is referred to her office for enforcement, and that properties open to trespass can be secured without going through court, usually by public works.
- Notariano said the city has only six inspectors and asked for a proactive plan to secure vacant houses before people start sheltering in them. The chair said he shared the concern.
- Related: Cited properties list enforcement and Landlord registry referendum.
Sources
- Video: https://youtube.com/watch?v=A_-YH7zwsog (uploaded human-made captions)
Discussion time
About 5 minutes across 1 meeting (from transcript timestamps; approximate).
| Meeting | Minutes |
|---|---|
| 2026-10-13 - Committee of the Whole | 5 |
Log
- 2026-10-13 - Committee of the Whole — About five minutes under new business (1:20:38-1:25:23).