Vacant Building License

The City of Dubuque issues annual licenses for vacant commercial and residential buildings located in the city of Dubuque. The annual License fee is $350 for both residential and commercial buildings.

Applicable Codes

Please review the City of Dubuque's Code of Ordinances for requirements on

  • Licensing of Vacant and/or Abandoned Buildings: Title 14, Chapter 4
  • Property Maintenance Code: Title 14, Chapter 1, Article J

How To Apply

Property owners must complete a vacant building license application through the City's online permit portal, which includes a plan of action for restoring the structure to its intended use. The application must be submitted along with full payment ($350) for the annual license.

Inspections

Upon receipt of the application, a full (interior and exterior) inspection will be scheduled. Property owners are responsible for making all necessary repairs if violations are found during the inspection process before the license is issued.

A quarterly exterior inspection will be performed from the public right-of-way to ensure exterior compliance.