Private Property Security Issues
Even if unoccupied, property owners are required to maintain secure access to the property under penalty of fines that increase on a daily basis – particularly entrance areas such as windows and/or doors that might be accessed by unauthorized individuals. In this instance, an unoccupied property is defined as a structure that is unoccupied and has not had running water or electricity for a period of at least two (2) weeks, where such a structure shall not exist in an unsecured condition so that it can be entered by means other than a key or forced entry.
The enforcement of these building/property security issues is pursuant to Sec. 1:609 of the Baton Rouge Code of Ordinances in that anyone found to be in violation shall pay a penalty of $117.00. An additional fine of $117.00 per day may be imposed for each day of a continued, related violation.