This bill requires municipalities to conduct an annual inventory of abandoned properties within their jurisdiction and maintain a detailed registry that includes information such as tax block and lot numbers, street addresses, and ownership details. Municipalities must submit this registry to the Division of Local Government Services, which will create a statewide online database of abandoned properties. To ensure compliance, municipalities that fail to meet these requirements will be ineligible for certain state aid, including Energy Tax Receipts Property Tax Relief Aid and Consolidated Municipal Property Tax Relief Aid.

Additionally, property owners are mandated to document any rehabilitation efforts on their abandoned properties quarterly. If owners do not respond to notifications regarding these efforts, municipalities may initiate special tax sales for the properties. The bill also allows municipalities to impose fees on property owners to cover the costs of maintaining the abandoned property registry, with any unpaid fees becoming a lien on the property. Overall, the legislation aims to improve the management and rehabilitation of abandoned properties in New Jersey, enhancing accountability and reducing their negative impact on communities.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 55:19-101, 52:27D-439, 52:27D-442, 52:27D-118.42