Lower Paxton, PA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 152, Registration of Defaulted Mortgage and Vacant Property, was adopted by the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors on 11-21-2017 by Ord. No. 17-14 and amended in its entirety on 1-21-2020 by Ord. No. 19-08. Section 152-1 states its purpose: to address the deterioration, crime and decline in value of neighborhoods caused by property with defaulted mortgages and vacant property, and to identify, regulate, limit and reduce the number of these properties.

Section 152-6, amended 2-7-2023 by Ord. No. 23-01, covers vacant property that is not in foreclosure. The owner must register within 30 days after the property becomes vacant. Vacant commercial property under contract and managed by a property management company is exempt. The first semiannual registration costs $300 per vacant property, then renewals within 10 days of expiration cost $600 for the first renewal (six to 12 months), $1,200 for the second renewal (12 to 18 months) and $1,200 for renewals after 18 months. The Code says the fees are structured to give owners of vacant buildings an incentive to care for them, fill them, or in appropriate cases demolish them. A late fee of 10% of the semiannual fee applies for every thirty-day period the property stays unregistered.

Section 152-2 defines registrable property to include any property vacant for more than 30 days or with a cancellation of utilities, whichever comes first. Its list of evidence of vacancy includes overgrown or dead vegetation, accumulation of trash, junk or debris, abandoned vehicles, an unsanitary stagnant swimming pool and boards over doors or windows. A sale does not clear the debt: the new owner registers within 10 days, and the previous owner stays responsible for earlier fees, fines and penalties.

For mortgaged property in default, § 152-5 requires the mortgagee to inspect, register within 10 days of the inspection, pay $300 semiannually, and inspect monthly. Underlying building condition is controlled by the 2009 International Property Maintenance Code adopted in § 148-1, which is adopted by reference and not reprinted in the Township Code.