Goodwin Administration maintains focus on Public Safety

Charleston City Council passed a measure promoted by the Goodwin Administration to help support law enforcement. Council voted to strengthen penalties against landlords who are aware of criminal activity on their property but do not take action.

“We must always continue to strengthen our ordinances and support our officers. This measure, coupled with steps we have taken over the last ten months, will continue to provide law enforcement with the tools needed to help ensure our communities are safe and vibrant places to live and visit,” said Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin.

The measure strengthens penalties against landlords who are made aware of criminal activity occurring on their property by the Charleston Police Department but do not act to remedy the issue. The new ordinance makes it a misdemeanor, with a fine of up to $1,000, for landlords that do not remove illegal activity from their property within 30 days of notice by the Charleston Police Department.

“Whether a property is vacant or has persons lawfully living in it, when illegal activity is consistently occurring at the same property it becomes a safety issue that impacts the entire community,” said City Attorney Kevin Baker. “This ordinance is another tool the City and the Charleston Police Department can use to help address this problem by holding property owners accountable.”

Property owners can address recurring illegal activity on their property in any lawful way, including starting eviction proceedings, in order to meet the demands of the new ordinance. This ordinance will go into effect on Saturday, October 26, 2019.