Council passes amended vacant-structure registry ordinance after debate, 5–1

The Mobile City Council voted Nov. 18 to adopt an amended vacant-structure registry ordinance (Chapter 52, real property maintenance) covering the Henry Aaron Loop, approving an amendment that struck a section, revised registration language and reduced the fee-schedule items. Council recorded the final vote as 5–1 in favor.

Council member Reynolds opposed the ordinance as presented and said the amendments were necessary. He argued the draft, as offered, placed undue burdens on business owners and could be ineffective because a property could be used briefly to avoid registration. "I think this is a bad law, the way it's written as offered," Reynolds said during debate, and he said the offered amendment was needed to require government notice to property owners and to minimize arbitrary burdens.

Other council members urged an education effort and outreach to title companies and realtors so owners in affected neighborhoods would be informed. Council member Woods said the ordinance is a useful step but that the city should roll out an education program in the coming months. "There's gonna have to be an education program rolled out," Woods said.

After amendment, the council adopted the ordinance as amended. The meeting record shows the amendment was distributed on a "clean version" to the clerk's office and had been discussed in prior weeks. The council announced the result as passing 5–1; the transcript did not attach a full roll‑call breakdown of individual yes/no votes beyond that tally.

The ordinance language discussed included striking a subsection and modifying registration provisions and the fee schedule. Council members said they remain concerned about notice and practical enforcement and requested additional efforts to educate property owners in the Henry Aaron Loop about registration requirements.

The ordinance will be filed with the clerk and is subject to standard publication and implementation steps under city code.