“What happens if nobody violates the code? They can’t keep their employees without these violations.”
When things went South here in Summit Co., Ohio, They lowered the value of my house by $1,500. But they raised the value of my lot by $10,000. Did it everywhere. They kept their employees!
“But they raised the value of my lot by $10,000. Did it everywhere.”
The extra lot next to my house is mine. Only the front 100 feet or so is buildable as the rest is a deep ravine dropping 50 feet. (Deed restrictions state the house must be out of the view of the street, so the lots are narrow and very deep. Building within the first 100 feet would be a violation.) The county evaluated the lot at $28,000. The comps for houses (no lots left) in my neighborhood said it should be less than half that. My realtor told me it was unsalable at any more than about $8,000. When I had the county tax people visit they showed comps for a much pricier neighborhood only half as far from town, fully developed with paved roads, electric and water. I pointed out the differences. Not their problem as they treat all lots the same way.
I claimed poor mouth, out of work, etc. I made the girl blush. She told me to use this tax trick and combine this lot with my lot as one piece. I did and it cut the taxes by 1/3 for that lot over what they were as I have homestead exemption.
Incidentally, I vote against all tax exemptions. If the taxes are burdensome for some special group, the elderly, the military, then they are burdensome for all. I have passed up on property that is excessively taxed. Everybody should.