A. For purposes of promoting commerce and the equitable treatment of the citizens of this state, the registration of any real property by any municipality is declared to be a statewide concern and shall be prohibited pursuant to subsection B of this section.
B. No municipality shall enact or attempt to enforce through fees, civil fines or criminal penalties any ordinance, rule or regulation to require the registration of real property. Any ordinance, rule or regulation contrary to the provisions of this section, whether enacted prior to or after August 22, 2014, is declared null and void and unenforceable against every owner, purchaser, assignee, lessee, mortgagee or beneficiary of any interest in the real property.
C. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from creating a list of the property owners or the designees of property owners of residential, commercial or leased real property to ensure the public safety and welfare of its citizens.
Additionally, for the purpose of addressing public nuisances, dilapidated properties or other unlawful conduct in accordance with their general police powers, municipal governments may require:
1. Contact information of persons or entities responsible for emergency contracts and property maintenance for property outlined in this subsection; or
2. The name of a person or entity authorized to receive notice and service of process for property outlined in this subsection, along with their contact information.
Municipal governments shall not collect a fee to administer the collection of information authorized in this section.
D. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from enacting and enforcing rules and regulations to require real property owners to comply with the provisions of this section and established occupancy standards as set forth by ordinance and state law.
E. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a municipality from requiring the owner of property that is the subject of any abatement process provided in this title to provide the name, physical address and telephone number of an individual to receive and respond to communications concerning the property subject to the abatement process. No future action taken by the municipality shall be rendered ineffective due to the failure of the property owner to provide the information pursuant to this subsection. The municipality shall not assess any additional charge when requiring the information.
F. Information obtained by the municipal government under this section shall be confidential and not subject to disclosure under the Open Records Act.
Added by Laws 2014, c. 326, § 2. Amended by Laws 2017, c. 52, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017; Laws 2021, c. 403, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2021.