The Property Maintenance Division enforces the Vacant Building Maintenance License ordinance.  The Task Force began on July 1, 2006.  The mission of the Task Force is to reduce vacant buildings through rehabilitation and demolition.  The primary tool of the Task Force is the Housing Docket and the amended VBML Ordinance passed in March, 2006.

Vacated Building Licensing

The owner of a building that is ordered vacated by the Code Enforcement Division is required to obtain a Vacated Building Maintenance License (VBML). These buildings are ordered vacated due to code violations. An empty building without code violations need not be licensed. 

To determine if your building located within the City of Cincinnati is ordered vacated and must be licensed, check the address in the VACATED BUILDING LIST.  Select the "Database Query" button and wait for the report. The list is sorted by street name and house number. If the building in which you are interested appears on the list, a Vacated Building Maintenance License is currently required. The license fee is calculated on the number of years the building has been continuously vacated, and the license must be renewed each year. See the form below titled "VBML General Information/Application Process," to learn more about the license, fees, waivers and refunds.

VBML General Information/Application Process