Knowledge Base

If you believe a property is in need of condemnation or should be torn down at the expense of the City-Parish, a complaint should be filed with 311 and the City-Parish Neighborhood Improvement division will make a determination as to whether or not a property needs to be condemned or torn down. Please note that due to the costs and timeframe associated with property condemnations and demolitions, the City-Parish follows an arduous inspection process that often times may take months or even years to complete in order to provide the property owner with an appropriate amount of time to expend his or her own resources to rehabilitate the property in question.

When you call 311 to report a property in need of condemnation or demolition, please be prepared to answer the following questions:

1. Is the property in question vacant?
2. Does the property have a current electric meter (red or blue tag)?
3. Is it open/accessible to passersby?
4. Does it look like it need to be demolished (i.e., is the property falling down or in significant need of structural improvements beyond repair)?

For more information, see Chapter 8: Dangerous Buildings, Secs. 12:520-12:526 in the Baton Rouge Code of Ordinances.