To reduce the negative effects of vacant buildings and vacant storefronts on residents and neighborhoods, the City of Chicago enforces registration and maintenance requirements for the owners of all vacant buildings, the owners of occupied buildings with one or more vacant storefront, and the mortgagees of certain vacant buildings. The City of Chicago takes improperly maintained vacant buildings and storefronts seriously. Using the Vacant Building Registration (VBR) site:

• Members of the public can obtain and track information about registered vacant buildings and storefronts, as well as information about pending enforcement cases involving vacant building violations.
• An owner of a vacant building can register the building as required by ordinance, pay registration fees, update contact information, and renew or terminate (deregister) an existing registration.
• An owner of an occupied building with one or more vacant storefront can register the building as required by ordinance, pay registration fees, update contact information, and renew or terminate (deregister) an existing registration.
• A mortgagee of a vacant building can register the building as required by ordinance, pay registration fees, update contact information, and renew or terminate (deregister) an existing registration.