Blight Abatement

Please Respect Our Neighborhood and Rehabilitate Your Property

What Properties May Fall Under the Blight Abatement Program?

Generally, to be considered for the Blight Abatement Program, a property must meet all of the following conditions:

1. It has been vacant and/or boarded for at least one year.
2. It has been the subject of complaints.
3. It is no longer being maintained for useful occupancy.
4. It is in a dilapidated condition or lacks normal maintenance or upkeep.

What Remedies Are Available Under the Blight Abatement Program?

Among other remedies available, the County may:

• Demolish the blighted structure(s) and charge the owner for the cost thereof.
• Make repairs to blighted properties and charge the owner for those repairs.
• Acquire blighted properties by eminent domain and then repair, clear or sell properties with the requirement to eliminate the blight.

What Process Does the Program Follow?

• Properties can be referred to the Blight Abatement Program at 703-246-5179 without the caller being identified.
• The property is then added to the list of properties reported to HCD as potentially blighted.
• The Blight Abatement Program/HCD will inspect each property in turn to see if the property appears to be blighted.
• If the property appears to be blighted, County files are reviewed for a history of violations and complaints.
• The owner will then be contacted and requested to eliminate the blight on the property through voluntary compliance.
• If this informal process is not successful, the Blight Abatement Program will begin a series of steps leading to elimination of the blight through enforcement measures as follows:
  • The property is referred to the Neighborhood Enhancement Task Force (NETF) to consider whether the property meets the definition of blight and what documentation supports the finding. (The NETF is a committee comprised of staff from many County departments, including HCD, the Health Department, the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services and the Police Department.)
  • The owner is informed of a preliminary determination and is required to eliminate the blight or to develop a plan within 30 days to eliminate the blight.
  • If the owner does not develop an acceptable plan and then carry it out, the Blight Abatement Program staff will develop a blight abatement plan (Plan) for the property.
  • The Board of Supervisors holds a public hearing and adopts an ordinance declaring the property a nuisance and compelling abatement of the nuisance
  • The Plan is then carried out through the Department of Housing and Community Development.
  • The owner is charged for the costs of abating the blight, including county staff time and overhead costs.

* If the Plan calls for acquiring the property, additional steps are necessary.

How Long Does It Take to Eliminate a Blighted Property?

Through voluntary cooperation of the property owner(s), eliminating blight can be completed in as few as 60 days. Without cooperation of the property owner, enforcement procedures may become a time-consuming, lengthy legal process.

Are There Other Remedies Besides Enforcement?

The County offers several programs that may offer the property owner assistance to eliminate the blight. These include Demolition loans, Rehabilitation loans, Redevelopment loans, and Tax Abatement for Rehabilitation.

Throughout the entire process, HCD will continue to work with the property owner to gain voluntary compliance to eliminate the blight.