Asheville, NC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Under Sec. 4-181, the building inspector may declare any building or structure that is partially destroyed, dilapidated, or otherwise substandard to be unsafe whenever it is dangerous to life, health, or other property, or constitutes a fire or safety hazard or a public nuisance. That declaration functions as a formal order of condemnation. Sec. 4-182 then requires the owner to demolish, remove, or otherwise remedy the condition; if the owner refuses, the city council may step in, do the work itself, and specially assess the cost against the property.

Before any demolition order issues, Sec. 4-183 requires the inspector to notify the owner by certified or registered mail (with regular mail as backup) and to hold a hearing no less than ten days after that notice, at which the owner may appear with counsel and present evidence. If the owner cannot be found, notice may run by posting on the structure and one newspaper publication at least a week before the hearing. Copies also go to seven listed community organizations, including the Land-of-Sky Regional Council, Mountain Housing Opportunities, and the Asheville Housing Authority.

If the hearing confirms the unsafe condition, Sec. 4-184 lets the inspector order the owner to demolish, remove, or otherwise remedy the building within a period the inspector sets, which cannot be less than 60 days. Owners may appeal to city council under Sec. 4-185, either at the hearing itself or in writing within ten days. An owner who neither appeals nor complies is reported to the city manager for city council action under Sec. 4-186.