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"Butte-Silver Bow officials are taking a slow-and-sure approach to enforcing a new ordinance that requires owners of vacant buildings to register them with the county.

The new local law took effect July 20, but it gives all vacant-building owners six months to provide the county with an address and description of the property, their name, and how they can be contacted.

Those with buildings that are currently occupied also have six months after they become vacant to submit the information.

Initial notices about the law have been sent to about 40 owners of buildings the county already had identified as being vacant, and more may be sent out in the coming weeks.

The law was crafted in hopes of preventing or curbing blight by letting county officials know what buildings are vacant and how owners can be reached if they are dangerous or might pose a health threat. Some might be under improvement plans ordered by the city.

But officials are taking a cautious and cooperative approach to enforcing the new law so it is done evenly and fairly.