City of Mobile adopts new requirements for vacant properties downtown

Nov 18th, 2025

Posted in: Press ReleaseMayorCity Council

Mobile, Ala. — To support continued revitalization in the city’s urban center and improve public safety, the City of Mobile has adopted new requirements for vacant buildings in its downtown.

After two months of discussion, the Mobile City Council voted 5–1 today to approve an ordinance requiring owners of vacant downtown properties to register those buildings with the City, pay an annual registration fee, and meet stricter security and maintenance standards. Revenue generated from these registrations will support blight remediation and redevelopment efforts downtown.

Under the adopted ordinance, vacant property owners must secure all doors and windows, maintain a monitored fire alarm system, ensure safe access for first responders, and carry adequate liability insurance. They must also maintain exterior lighting, ensure their building’s plumbing is functional, and take steps to prevent pest infestations and other hazards.

First introduced by former Mayor Sandy Stimpson, the ordinance is intended to support future growth and development downtown. Over the last three weeks, Mayor Spiro Cheriogotis and his staff have worked with members of the Council to adjust the ordinance and secure its passage.

The goal of the ordinance is to improve safety for residents and first responders, support downtown redevelopment, and encourage owners to better maintain their properties and return them to productive use. Similar ordinances are used in cities around the country, and the City of Mobile’s was developed based on best practices in other communities and in collaboration with local first responders.

“I want to thank the City Council for supporting this ordinance and moving downtown Mobile forward. There was a lot of give and take to get to this point, but that’s what meaningful legislation often requires,” Mayor Cheriogotis said. “So many people have invested their time, talent, and resources into making downtown Mobile what it is today. Like all Mobilians, they want a safer, more vibrant city center, and this ordinance helps us get there.”

The new requirements apply to vacant structures inside the Henry Aaron Loop that have been unused or unoccupied for more than six months. At that point, owners of vacant buildings would be required to register their property with the City. The ordinance does allow for exceptions, including for properties under renovation, damaged by fire or weather, or those actively marketed for sale.

The ordinance will take effect in May 2026.