To fine and hold legally responsible land owners from out of state who neglect their land

HB 5603 requires out-of-state landowners (those with primary residence or business outside West Virginia) to register their West Virginia properties with local authorities within 60 days of purchase, providing a physical address, in-state agent, and contact details. If a property is deemed dilapidated (unsafe, code-violating, or vacant over 12 months), local authorities must issue a 30-day notice for repairs, with failure to fix resulting in escalating fines: $15,000 for the first 30 days, doubling every subsequent 30 days. Each month of noncompliance is treated as a separate violation, with penalties accruing automatically. The bill targets out-of-state owners of neglected properties, aiming to address public safety hazards and reduce local government burdens from unremedied properties.