WINNIPEG - January 18, 2008 - In order to enforce safety standards for vacant buildings, three Winnipeg Fire Department personnel will be temporarily reassigned to conduct inspections of properties currently on the City’s Vacant Building Registry. The City of Winnipeg is targeting these properties to ensure compliance with the Vacant and Derelict Buildings By-law, and to address a backlog of approximately 450 properties on the Registry currently requiring inspection.

“This is a solid first step in ensuring that the blight of vacant and derelict buildings are removed from our communities,” said Mayor Sam Katz. “By-laws only work if they are strictly enforced and today we are sending a strong message to property owners that this neglect is unacceptable and will not be tolerated. Although this is a positive move forward, we need to look at further deterrents for negligent homeowners and attract more responsible investment in our communities.”

The Vacant and Derelict Buildings By-law No.35/2004 came into effect on July 1, 2004 replacing the former Vacant Dwellings By-law. The intent of the By-law is to place stricter safety and security standards on property owners of vacant buildings, and to improve and protect the quality of life of neighbourhoods. With some of the most stringent standards in the country, the By-law aims to eliminate the negative visual impact that vacant and derelict buildings create, and to reduce the dangers these buildings present to the public and emergency response personnel.