DUNBAR, W.Va. -- Dunbar City Council approved an ordinance Tuesday that forces property owners to either fix up vacant and rundown buildings or sell them.
The owners will have to pay a yearly fee until the buildings are cleaned up.
Officials have said the empty buildings are a breeding ground for crime and a black hole for public funds, requiring lots of attention from the police and fire departments.
The ordinance is an amendment to the city's Home Rule law.
It goes into effect in 45 days.
