Concord, NC Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

City Code Sec. 14-86(a) authorizes the city zoning enforcement officer or fire inspector to hold a building unsafe, and to affix a notice of its dangerous character to a conspicuous place on the exterior wall, whenever it appears especially dangerous to life because of fire liability, bad condition of walls, overloaded floors, defective construction, decay, unsafe wiring or heating, or inadequate means of egress. Sec. 14-86(b) extends this authority to nonresidential buildings inside a designated community development target area that appear vacant or abandoned and dilapidated enough to cause or contribute to blight, disease, vagrancy, fire or safety hazard, danger to children, or to attract criminal activity.

Removing the condemnation notice from a tagged building is itself a Class 1 misdemeanor under Sec. 14-87. If the owner does not act, Sec. 14-88 requires written notice by certified mail or personal service describing the hazardous condition and setting a hearing no later than ten days out, at which the owner can appear with counsel and present evidence. Following that hearing, Sec. 14-89 lets the zoning enforcement officer or fire inspector issue a written order requiring repair, closing, vacating, or demolition within at least 60 days, shortened if there is imminent danger to life or property. An owner may appeal that order to city council within ten days under Sec. 14-90, but an unappealed order becomes final and enforceable.