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Empty Buildings, Open Questions: Green Bay's Proposed Vacant Commercial Property Registry

October 13, 2026 · Dane G. Lasecki

Green Bay’s Common Council is weighing General Ordinance 24-26, which would require owners of fully vacant commercial buildings to register with the City and pay annual fees that rise to $4,000. This Grow Green Bay white paper reviews the ordinance, the research on vacant property registries, and how other Wisconsin cities handle the issue. We find that the problem is real but unmeasured. Registration has solid evidence behind it, but escalating vacancy fees have little. The fee also falls hardest on owners of smaller buildings, may be legally vulnerable, and includes provisions that could slow redevelopment. The paper closes with policy options. The main one is to start the registry, hold the fees until the City knows how many buildings it has, and target neglect rather than vacancy.