Updated, July 21, 2026: On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, Allentown City Council passed a heavily amended version of the Vacant Property Ordinance into law.

The Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® analyzed the ordinance through its Government Affairs Committee and legal team and communicated its concerns to the City. The association sincerely appreciates the communication and efforts of both the Administration and City Council throughout the process.

Significant amendments include:

• The complete removal of “At-Risk Properties” from the ordinance.
• A residential vacant property registration fee of $150 and a commercial vacant property registration fee of $300. A fee waiver was added for properties that have gone through the City’s Presale Inspection process.
• An expanded definition of “Occupied Property” to include temporary or seasonal vacancy and temporary absence.
• A requirement that guidelines be developed to establish objective criteria for determining vacancy.
• The elimination of the absolute declaration that all vacant properties are deemed a public nuisance.
• The appeals process remains within the Department of Community and Economic Development — he same department responsible for making the initial vacancy determination. However, a property owner who is dissatisfied with the appeal decision may also appeal to the Blighted Property Review Committee.
• A longer appeals period of 15 business days, replacing the previous 10-calendar-day period.

The ordinance takes effect July 24, 2026. The association asks members to notify Asher Schiavone, GLVR’s Government Affairs Director, if the ordinance adversely affects any of their listings that have been on the market for 90 days or more. Asher can be reached at Asher@GLVR.org or 484-821-0512.

Original Post, July 13, 2026: Allentown City Council will consider whether to adopt its Vacant & At-Risk Property Ordinance this Wednesday, July 15, 2026, at 6:30 p.m.

The Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® has been working with the City Administration and Council on amendments to the proposed ordinance. While several changes have been made, GLVR continues to have concerns about some of its core provisions.

Why should you care about Allentown’s upcoming consideration? Any property that remains unoccupied for 90 days or more would be placed on a Vacant Property Registry. Properties on the registry would be required to pay an annual $300 fee, undergo an inspection within 45 days, and automatically be deemed a public nuisance. This includes homes being listed for sale or lease, second homes, being in probate, being vacant due to family hardship or military deployment overseas, etc.

What can you do? You may submit comments, anonymously if preferred, through this link anytime before Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. Please help encourage members of Allentown City Council to consider the following amendments to the ordinance:

1. Require that properties, vacant for 90+ days, must also be determined to be vacant by an Enforcement Officer.
2. The Bureau of Building Standards and Safety “shall” (not “may”) establish administrative guidelines identifying objective indicators of vacancy.
3. Appeals should be heard by the Blighted Property Review Committee, not by the Director of the same Department that initially determines vacancy.

Questions or concerns can be directed to Asher Schiavone, Government Affairs Director of the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS, at (484) 894-8012 or Asher@glvr.org.