ATL Standard

Mayor Dickens and City Council Introduce ‘Blight Tax’ to Crack Down on Absentee Property Owners

ATLANTA—Mayor Andre Dickens, in collaboration with Councilmember Byron Amos, has introduced legislation aimed at creating a new 'Blight Tax' to address neglected properties contributing to blighted conditions and disinvestment in Atlanta neighborhoods.

The proposed ordinance would enable the city to utilize a program approved by Georgia voters in recent years, compelling property owners to remediate or redevelop blighted properties. If passed, the legislation would empower municipal courts to impose a "Blight Tax" on neglected properties, altering the economics of neglectful land speculation. Occupied properties would be exempt from this program, ensuring no residents are involuntarily displaced.

“Since taking office, our Administration has moved with urgency to address substandard housing and root out negligent property owners,” said Mayor Dickens. “This new policy will equip the City with a powerful tool for cracking down on corporate, absentee owners who treat property as a cheap investment vehicle rather than part of the fabric of our communities.”

Blight taxes have been successfully implemented in various communities across the state and country as an enforcement tool for chronically vacant and neglected properties that might otherwise remain vacant for decades. The new Blight Tax would allow municipal courts to increase specific blighted properties’ tax bills by up to 25 times the current city tax rate. Additionally, once a blighted property is remediated and returned to productive use, it may qualify for a discounted tax rate. For large-scale properties significantly impacting their surrounding neighborhood, property owners must first agree to a detailed redevelopment plan addressing neighborhood objectives around connectivity, transportation, and public amenities.

“This legislation addresses a key concern for District 3 residents, who have for too long been subjected to neglected, blighted properties whose owners are content to wait to cash in,” said District 3 Councilmember Byron Amos. “The Blight Tax will give us much greater leverage in persuading these owners to clean up their property or sell them to a better steward who will.”

The new Blight Tax is part of several initiatives launched by Mayor Dickens since taking office. Since January 2022, the administration has introduced the city's first Housing Help Center, established funds assisting legacy residents in remaining within their communities, and set up an eviction diversion program for low-income families at risk of displacement.