Bethel draft ordinance would let city fine vacant-building owners, speed nuisance orders

A draft ordinance rewriting Bethel's nuisance code would require owners of empty buildings to register with the city within 30 days and pay escalating annual fees, starting at $100 in year one and reaching $1,000 or more by year four. Unpaid registration fees, fines, and city compliance costs could become liens on the property. The City of Bethel Planning Commission is scheduled to discuss the proposal Thursday, July 9, at 6:30 p.m. at 300 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, with a Zoom option available.

The draft is a comprehensive rewrite of Bethel Municipal Code Chapter 15.04. It goes beyond vacant buildings, adding new nuisance categories, including significant visible mold in transient lodging, and new enforcement tools.

The draft defines a vacant building as one not lawfully used for residential or commercial purposes for 180 days. Exceptions include vacation properties, structures used only on a seasonal basis, buildings continuously offered in good faith for sale, lease, or rent since the 181st day of vacancy for up to 365 days, and buildings under an active permit for repair, rehabilitation, construction, or demolition completed within one year of the initial permit.

Beyond registration and fees, the draft requires owners of vacant or abandoned buildings to post identifying signage, secure all doors, windows, and openings against unauthorized entry, and keep the property clean, structurally safe, and free of graffiti and debris.

The draft also gives the planning director authority to issue abatement orders directly, requiring compliance within 15 days, without a prior city council hearing. The city says the "current code is insufficient for identifying, abating, and enforcing the abatement of hazards and nuisances, and requires significant updates to ensure that the city has maximum flexibility in this area."

The July 9 meeting will also take up a proposed Demolition Assistance Program intended to improve public health and neighborhood stability through the voluntary removal of deteriorated structures. Participation would not be guaranteed; the program is subject to annual budget availability.

The commission will also receive an update on nuisance properties and their progress, including title searches the city is pursuing for properties on Nengqurralia Drive and Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway. In late May, the city hand-delivered public nuisance notices to occupants at 121 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway, 244 Akiak Drive, and 248 Akiak Drive, giving recipients 14 calendar days to correct the cited conditions. According to the Planning Director's June 2026 report, the occupant at 121 Chief Eddie Hoffman Highway had been actively working to clean up the property, while the notices posted at 244 and 248 Akiak Drive had not been acknowledged within the 14-day window or as of the report date.