•  
  •  
 

Abstract

Part I of this Article provides a brief introduction to North Carolina's experience thus far with the foreclosure crisis and introduces the broad array of statutorily granted tools local governments might employ to deal with vacant or abandoned dwellings in varying stages of neglect. Part II discusses the general police power that serves as the first line of defense against the decline of vacant or abandoned housing, as well as how that power is limited by state statutes governing minimum housing standards. Part III then turns to those minimum housing statutes to examine their operation and limitations. Part IV analyzes the authority of local governments in North Carolina to implement a policy tool used in other states; namely, a vacant property registration program. Part V concludes by reflecting on the limitations of North Carolina's complex web of code enforcement mechanisms and proposes some ways in which the North Carolina General Assembly could enhance local governments' authority to regulate vacant and abandoned dwellings.

Share

COinS
 
 

To view the content in your browser, please download Adobe Reader or, alternately,
you may Download the file to your hard drive.

NOTE: The latest versions of Adobe Reader do not support viewing PDF files within Firefox on Mac OS and if you are using a modern (Intel) Mac, there is no official plugin for viewing PDF files within the browser window.