Bessemer, AL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Article IX of Chapter 18 defines a dangerous building at Sec. 18-237 as one showing any of nine listed defects, including walls that lean so far a plumbline through the center of gravity falls outside the middle third of the base, 33 percent or more deterioration of supporting members, 50 percent or more deterioration of nonsupporting walls, inadequate fire egress, or a condition unfit for human habitation. Sec. 18-238 declares any building meeting that definition a public nuisance outright. Sec. 18-239 sets the disposition standards: a building that can reasonably be repaired out of violation must be ordered repaired; one dangerous to occupants' health or safety must be vacated; and one that is 50 percent or more damaged, decayed or deteriorated from its original value, or that is a fire hazard, must be demolished.

Sec. 18-240 requires the building inspection officer to inspect all public buildings, schools, halls, churches, theaters, hotels, tenements and commercial or manufacturing buildings semiannually, to inspect any building on complaint, and to give the owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee and any other interested party written notice, allowing up to 60 days to vacate, repair or demolish. A posted notice must stay on the building until it is repaired, vacated or demolished. Sec. 18-241 puts the city council in charge of a follow-up hearing if the owner disputes the notice, and if the owner still fails to comply within 30 days of the council's order, the city can repair, vacate or demolish the building itself and place the cost as a lien against the land or pursue it in a lawsuit against the owner.