§ 36-177. Exemption of real estate taxes for certain rehabilitated or renovated residential and commercial and industrial real estate.
(a)
Definitions. For the purpose of this section, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them by this subsection unless another meaning shall clearly appear from the text:
(1)
Substantially rehabilitated or renovated residential real estate: Real estate upon which there is an existing residential structure, which is no less than 50 years of age, and which has been so improved as to increase the assessed value of the structure by no less than 40 percent. An addition to an existing residential structure shall not qualify as substantial rehabilitation or replacement unless there is also simultaneous rehabilitation or renovation of the existing structure. In order for an addition to an existing structure to qualify as substantial rehabilitation or renovation, the addition must be for improvements to the living areas of the structure, such as bathrooms, kitchens, bedrooms and similar facilities not to exceed 15 percent of the original above-grade living area at the time of application. Additions for such things as garages, swimming pools, patios and similar facilities that are not used as living areas for the structure shall not be eligible for a tax exemption. Additions greater than 15 percent will be prorated to only allow 15 percent of the addition to be exempted.
(2)
Substantially rehabilitated or renovated multifamily (five units or more), commercial, or industrial real estate: Any real estate upon which there is an existing multifamily, commercial, or industrial structure which is no less than 25 years of age, and which has been so improved as to increase the assessed value of the structure by no less than 60 percent. An addition to an existing multi-family, commercial, or industrial structure shall not qualify as substantial rehabilitation or replacement unless there is also simultaneous rehabilitation or renovation of the existing structure. In order for an addition to an existing structure to qualify as substantial rehabilitation or renovation, the addition must be for improvements to the existing areas of the structure not to exceed 15 percent of the original gross leasable square footage at the time of application. Additions greater than 15 percent will be prorated to only allow 15 percent of the addition to be exempted.
(3)
Base value: The assessed value of any structure covered by this section prior to the commencement of rehabilitation or renovation work, as determined by the city assessor upon receipt of an eligible application for rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption and after a physical inspection of the property by an appraiser from the city assessor's office.
(4)
Rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption: An amount equal to the increase in assessed value resulting from the substantial rehabilitation or renovation of a structure as determined by the city assessor and this amount only should be applicable to subsequent tax exemption.
(5)
Taxable year: For the purpose of this section, the fiscal year from July 1 through June 30 for which such real estate tax is imposed for the exemption claimed.
(6)
Taxes: Represents real estate taxes for this section.
(7)
Owner: The person or entity in whose name the structure is titled or a leasee who is legally obligated to pay real estate taxes assessed against the structure.
(b)
Rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemptions. It is hereby declared to be the purpose of this section to authorize a rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption for substantially rehabilitated or renovated residential, multifamily, commercial, or industrial real estate located anywhere within the City of Lynchburg.
(1)
For each residential property that qualifies, the rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption shall be effective for a period of ten years commencing on July 1 for any completed approved rehabilitation/renovation during the preceding fiscal year.
(2)
For each commercial or industrial property that qualifies, the rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption shall be effective for a period of ten years commencing on July 1 for any work completed during the preceding fiscal year.
(3)
For each multifamily property that qualifies, the rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption shall be effective for a period of eight years commencing on July 1 for any completed approved rehabilitation/renovation during the preceding fiscal year.
(c)
Graduated real estate tax exemptions. The rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption for the last three years for residential, multifamily, commercial, or industrial structures will be reduced by 25 percent each year commencing on July 1 so that the final year of the exemption is only 25 percent of the initial exemption.
(d)
Usual and customary methods of assessing. In determining the base value and the increased value resulting from substantial rehabilitation or renovation of residential, multifamily, commercial, or industrial real estate, the city assessor shall employ usual and customary methods of assessing real estate.
(e)
Eligibility requirements.
(1)
An application to qualify a structure as a substantially rehabilitated or renovated residential, multifamily, commercial, or industrial structure must be filed with the city assessor's office before work is started. Applications may be obtained from the city assessor's office.
(2)
Upon receipt of an application for rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption, two appraisers from the city assessor's office shall make a physical inspection of the structure and determine the assessed base value of the structure. If work has been started prior to the first inspection; the base value will include any work started and will reflect the market value of the structure as of the date of the first inspection.
(3)
The application to qualify shall be effective for a period of two years from the date of filing. No extensions of this time period will be granted.
(4)
Upon completion of the rehabilitation or renovation, the owner of the property shall notify the city assessor, and two appraisers from the city assessor's office shall physically inspect the property and perform an after rehabilitation or renovation appraisal to determine if it then qualifies for the rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption.
(5)
Upon determination that the property has been substantially rehabilitated or renovated pursuant to the terms of this section, the rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption shall become effective for a period as provided in paragraph (b) hereof.
(6)
Prior to a determination that the property has been substantially rehabilitated or renovated the owner of the property shall continue to be subject to taxation upon the full value of the property, as otherwise authorized by this Code.
(7)
No improvements made upon vacant land nor total replacement of residential, multifamily, commercial or industrial structures shall be eligible for rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption as provided by this section. Tax exemptions for improvements for the replacement or repair of damaged or destroyed structures within the city's redevelopment or conservation areas or rehabilitation districts or for designated multifamily, commercial, or industrial new construction are regulated by section 36-177.1 of the City Code.
(8)
No property shall be eligible for such exemption unless the appropriate building permits have been acquired and the city assessor has verified that the rehabilitation or renovation indicated on the application has been completed.
(9)
Multifamily commercial structures after rehabilitation or renovation is completed shall remain as such or may be used as single-family, condominium residences for the remainder of the exemption period.
(10)
There shall be a non-refundable fee of $125.00 for processing each residential application and $250.00 for processing each multi-family, commercial, or industrial application under this section.
(11)
The property must at all times be in compliance with all Lynchburg City Codes including, without limitation, the building code, the rental housing code, the zoning ordinance and all other codes that relate to real estate within the City of Lynchburg. Failure to correct the violation within the required time, as provided by the building inspector, will void the remainder of the exemption. If a structure is damaged or destroyed and found to be uninhabitable, the exemption will be terminated.
(12)
No exemption shall be granted if access to the entire property is denied to the city assessor's office or the inspections division.
(13)
All taxes must be paid and current to be eligible for an exemption. If the city assessor is notified by the billing and collections department that the property is more than 30 days delinquent on taxes, then the remainder of the exemption will be void.
(14)
Only one rehabilitation or renovation exemption may be active for a parcel at any given time.
(15)
Nothing in this section shall supersede any other city, state, or federal code.
(f)
Exemption to run with the land. The rehabilitated or renovated real estate tax exemption shall run with the land, and the owner of such property during the two-year construction period and/or each of the years of exemption shall be entitled to the amount of partial exemption.
(Ord. No. O-82-252, § 1, 12-14-82; Ord. No. O-84-274, § 1, 11-27-84, eff. 7-1-84; Ord. No. O-88-277, § 1, 10-11-88; Ord. No. O-93-331, 12-14-93; Ord. No. O-03-040, 2-25-03, eff. 4-1-03; Ord. No. O-08-075, 5-27-08; Ord. No. O-17-070 , § 1, 8-8-17, eff. 1-1-18)
(Ord. No. O-82-252, § 1, 12-14-82; Ord. No. O-84-274, § 1, 11-27-84, eff. 7-1-84; Ord. No. O-88-277, § 1, 10-11-88; Ord. No. O-93-331, 12-14-93; Ord. No. O-03-040, 2-25-03, eff. 4-1-03; Ord. No. O-08-075, 5-27-08; Ord. No. O-17-070 , § 1, 8-8-17, eff. 1-1-18)