Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4705 – Creation and existence
(a) A foreclosing governmental unit may create a land bank by the adoption of a local law, ordinance, or resolution, as appropriate to such foreclosing governmental unit. The foreclosing governmental unit, prior to the adoption of a local law, ordinance, or resolution creating a land bank, must make a finding that residential structures within its jurisdiction have a vacancy rate at or above 3%. Each county in this State shall have the ability to create a land bank without making such a finding. The local law, ordinance, or resolution creating the land bank shall specify all of the following:
(1) The name of the land bank.
(2) The number of members of the board of directors, which shall consist of an odd number of members, and shall be not less than 7 members. For large jurisdictional land banks, the board of directors shall consist of an odd number of members and shall not be less than 11 members nor more than 15 members.
(3) The names of the initial individuals to serve as members of the board of directors, and the length of terms for which they are to serve.
(4) The qualifications, manner of selection or appointment, and terms of office of members of the board of directors.
Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4705
- board: means the board of directors of the land bank. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4703
- Foreclosing governmental unit: means any political subdivision of the State of Delaware, where such political subdivision has the power to cause the sale of real property located within its respective jurisdiction for the collection of liens inuring to that political subdivision. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4703
- Jurisdiction: (1) The legal authority of a court to hear and decide a case. Concurrent jurisdiction exists when two courts have simultaneous responsibility for the same case. (2) The geographic area over which the court has authority to decide cases.
- Land bank: means a land bank established under this chapter and in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4703
- State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
- Vacancy rate: means the percentage of residential structures that have been uninhabited for 6 months or more within a given jurisdiction. See Delaware Code Title 31 Sec. 4703
(b) Two or more foreclosing governmental units may enter into an intergovernmental cooperation agreement which creates a single land bank to act on behalf of such foreclosing governmental units, which agreement shall be authorized by each of the respective foreclosing governmental units in accordance with subsection (a) of this section. Such intergovernmental agreement shall include provisions for the dissolution of such land bank. In the event that a land bank is created pursuant to an agreement in accordance with this subsection, such agreement shall also specify the matters identified in subsection (a) of this section.
(c) In the event a county creates a land bank, such land bank shall have the power to acquire real property only in those portions of such county located outside of the geographical boundaries of any other land bank created by any other foreclosing governmental unit located partially or entirely within such county.