Asheville, North Carolina, now has the authority to secure abandoned buildings that are structurally sound but unsafe. City Council passed the ordinance 6 to 1 on April 14, 2026, closing a gap that left staff unable to act on a sound building no matter how dangerous it was.
Before the change, the city could act on buildings with code violations or on abandoned residential properties, which left sound, unoccupied buildings in between. Securing can now mean fencing a property or boarding it up to keep out squatters. The city attorney has described the target as a donut hole in the code: unoccupied, nonresidential structures without specific code violations. Before the vote, staff said they kept a running list of about 30 residential and commercial properties they would target.
The vote was not unanimous. Vice Mayor Mosley, the lone no vote, called the measure performative because the city has not set aside extra money to enforce it. Council member Bo Hess said the new authority is meant to avoid demolition where possible. Staff pointed to a burned abandoned home on South French Broad Avenue that was cleared within days as the kind of response they want to repeat. On Tunnel Road, the city issued a notice of violation for an unsafe structure and gave the owner 90 days to comply, after which the city could board up the property.
Why are fire officials pushing owners to secure vacant buildings?
Asheville fire officials report about a 10 percent increase in arson cases from 2025, and an investigator says part of that may reflect better reporting rather than more arson. Helene left more vacant structures, he says, because some owners could not afford to rebuild or chose not to. Unsecured abandoned structures can quickly become targets, putting neighboring homes and businesses at risk.
After a large fire at a River Arts District building in April, fire officials urged the public to report trespassing in vacant buildings and called on owners to secure their structures. They warn that vacant building fires endanger not only neighbors but also the crews who respond.
What does it take to secure a vacant building?
Fire officials recommend cameras, fences or signage for abandoned buildings and construction sites. One River Arts District artist said owners should fence or cover their property because police lack the staff to monitor every site. In practice, securing a vacant building covers:
- Fencing or boarding for openings and entry points that cannot be locked
- Cameras and visible signage showing the property is monitored
- Removal of debris and overgrowth that feed a fire and hide activity
- Regular inspections to confirm barriers and locks are still in place
Asheville is one city, but the lesson travels. A vacant building that is closed, fenced and visited regularly is a harder target than one that is not, and the owner is the one who decides which it is.
East West Maintenance coordinates inspections, securing, lawn care, and winterization for property managers and asset holders with vacant homes in Asheville and across North Carolina, South Carolina and Florida.