Poços de Caldas implements urban property abandonment policy

The municipality of Poços de Caldas has enacted Law No. 10.168 to establish a Municipal Policy for Confronting the Abandonment of Urban Properties. The legislation provides guidelines to identify and monitor abandoned buildings that may compromise public safety, health, and urban organization.

Key measures include the creation of a municipal registry for abandoned properties, which will track fiscal status and notification history. The law prioritizes voluntary regularization through owner notification but allows for more restrictive urbanistic instruments if necessary, such as progressive IPTU (property tax) over time, compulsory building or use, and expropriation.

The policy aims to strengthen the social function of property by encouraging the recovery of buildings for housing, community, or cultural purposes. It also emphasizes transparency by allowing public access to information regarding registered properties and providing a channel for citizens to report abandoned sites.