06/23/2025
This is the ordinance the city council will be voting on tonight at the city council meeting at city hall at 6:00 Please share to anyone that is a stakeholder or interested party in Okemah and our future as a city
ORDINANCE NO. 2025-_____
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF OKEMAH, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING TITLE 4 OF THE OKEMAH CITY CODE OF ORDINANCES BY ADDING A CHAPTER 9, VACANT BUILDINGS, ESTABLISHING A VACANT BUILDING REGISTRATION PROGRAM; REQUIRING REGISTRATION; SETTING REGISTRATION FEES; RESPONSIBILITIES OF OWNERS; PROVIDING FOR PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF OKEMAH, OKLAHOMA, AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1:PURPOSE:
WHEREAS, to protect the public health, safety, and welfare, and to promote economic development in the City of Okemah, the Council of the City of Okemah, Oklahoma, finds that a registration system for vacant buildings within the Main Street Corridor and other designated commercial zones should be established.
SECTION 2:
THEREFORE, Title 4 of the Okemah City Code of Ordinances should be and the same is hereby amended by adding Chapter 9, to read as follows:
SECTION 4-9-1: DEFINITIONS
VACANT BUILDING:A structure that is unoccupied and shows evidence of neglect or lack of maintenance for ninety (90) consecutive days, as determined by the City of Okemah’s Code Enforcement Officer or other designee of the City Manager.
MAIN STREET CORRIDOR:
DESIGNATED COMMERCIAL ZONES:
OWNER:Any person or entity holding title to or responsible for the property.
SECTION 4-9-2: REGISTRATION REQUIRED
Owners of any vacant building within the Main Street Corridor and other designated commercial zones must register the property with the Court Clerk within thirty (30) days of vacancy, or within ten (10) days of being notified by the Code Enforcement Officer. A separate registration is required for each property if the owner owns multiple vacant buildings. The City Clerk or Code Enforcement Officer shall provide the registration form.
SECTION 4-9-3: REGISTRATION FEE
A. There shall be an annual fee for each property to be paid to the City Clerk:
Year 1: $200.00
Year 2: $400.00
Year 3: $800.00
Year 4 and each subsequent year thereafter: $1,000.00
SECTION 4-9-4: OWNER RESPONSIBILITIES
A. During the period of vacancy, for each property, Owner shall:
1. Maintain liability insurance in the minimum amount of $300,000.00.
2. Secure the building against unauthorized entry.
3. Keep the property free from litter, graffiti, and overgrowth.
4. Allow annual inspections by the Code Enforcement Officer or other building official.
SECTION 4-9-5: PENALTIES AND ENFORCEMENT
A. Any Owner who fails to register a vacant building in compliance with this Chapter or violate any other provisions of this Chapter shall be guilty of an offense, and upon conviction thereof, shall face a fine of up to $250.00 each day of noncompliance.
B. The City is authorized to abate unsafe conditions and utilize all procedures and remedies for abating nuisances provided in Section 4-1-1, et seq., of this Title.
SECTION 3: That all existing ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
SECTION 4: That for the immediate preservation of the peace, health and safety of the City of Okemah and of the citizens and inhabitants thereof, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, and by reason whereof, it is necessary that this Ordinance shall go into full force and effect immediately upon its passage.
PASSED AND APPROVED and the Emergency Clause voted upon separately and passed this ___ day of June, 2025.
