A vacant property list is a set of addresses identified as vacant by a registry, inspection, or other source. Some cities publish an official list. Start there, record its date, and check what the city's definition includes before adding owner information.
St. Paul publishes a downloadable vacant-building list. Minneapolis maintains a vacant and condemned property dashboard. Seattle publishes code cases that you can filter for vacant-building records. These sources answer slightly different questions, so keep the original category and source alongside each address.
If you are checking one house, our condemned-property lookup guide explains how to verify an occupancy order. Vacancy alone does not establish condemnation, abandonment, or willingness to sell.
Official vacant-property lists and registries
Sources checked September 26, 2026. Program coverage is narrower than every empty building in a city, and a registry entry is not a sale listing.
| Market | Official starting point | What you can do |
|---|---|---|
| St. Paul, MN | Vacant Buildings page and current list | Open the linked spreadsheet, save its update date, and check each address's category and current case. The list linked when checked was updated September 23, 2026. |
| Minneapolis, MN | Vacant Building Registration program and vacant/condemned dashboard | Inspect the dashboard's classifications and use the city's property information search for individual records. The registration program and condemnation status have different requirements. |
| Seattle, WA | Code Complaints and Violations | Filter RecordTypeDesc for Vacant Building, then read StatusCurrent, OpenDate, and the linked case. A complaint type is not proof of a current occupancy ban. |
Use the St. Paul program page to find the newest file rather than bookmarking an old spreadsheet. For an unlisted jurisdiction, check the official building or housing department for a registry, then ask for records if none is published online.
St. Paul vacant-building list: a practical walkthrough
1. Download the city's current list
Open the Vacant Buildings page and choose the link to its list of vacant buildings. Save the file with the date shown on the page. Keep the original file so you can distinguish the city's data from your own notes.
2. Check the address and category
Find the address you want and preserve its category. The city's Vacant Building Program explains that purchase requirements differ across Categories I, II, and III. Category II requires city approval before sale and a repair-review process. Category III also requires city approval and the applicable clearance described by the city. Read the current program instructions before evaluating a purchase.
Worked reading example: if the list marks an address Category II, your next step is to obtain its code-compliance report and confirm the sale-review requirements with DSI. The category does not tell you the repair scope, current asking price, or whether its owner is selling. This is a category-reading example, not a claim about a particular house.
3. Retrieve the supporting report
Use the city's Code Compliance Reports page. If you cannot find the address, use the department contact on that page. Ask whether the report is current, whether additional orders apply, and whether anything has changed since the list was published.
4. Match the property to its owner record
Use the parcel number and address to find the county's property record. Keep the tax-mailing address separate from the property address. If the taxpayer is an entity, follow the LLC lookup workflow and record each person's actual role.
5. Keep a dated research list
Use one row per property with columns for address, parcel, registry category, source date, report link, date checked, owner of record, and next action. Preserve changes rather than overwriting the old entry without explanation. A property leaving a registry needs follow-up; it does not, by itself, prove that it sold or is safe to occupy.
St. Paul is available in FlaggedLeads. Check the supported markets before entering your email, with St. Paul selected for your trial. Available records vary by city; the official program remains the source for current requirements.
What other vacancy signals can tell you
| Source | Useful evidence | Limit |
|---|---|---|
| Official vacant-building registry | The address meets that program's criteria | May exclude other empty buildings or lag recent changes |
| Code complaint | A reported condition or enforcement case | A complaint is not an inspector's finding |
| Tax delinquency | Unpaid property taxes in that record | Does not establish vacancy |
| Utility information | A service-account condition, where lawfully available | Access varies; a disconnect alone does not establish occupancy |
| Old permits or dated street imagery | Historical activity or visible condition | Neither confirms who occupies the building now |
Start with the strongest direct record you can get. Add other signals as context, and keep uncertain occupancy marked unknown. A mailing-address mismatch is an absentee-ownership indicator, not confirmation that a building is empty.
From registry entries to a useful investor list
Match the property to its county record, check current orders and repair activity, and record what remains uncertain. An empty building can be awaiting renovation, probate, a new tenant, or another planned use. The list gives you a research starting point; owner motivation still needs a conversation.
For a broader workflow, see how to find distressed properties and how to buy an abandoned house. FlaggedLeads can organize available property signals in supported markets. Its 14-day trial requires an account for one selected metro, with no card required. Trial exports include up to 100 rows per download. Check coverage and available records before signing up.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get a vacant property list?
Start with your city's official vacant-building registry or housing department. St. Paul publishes a spreadsheet, Minneapolis offers a dashboard, and Seattle publishes filterable code cases. If no list is online, ask the responsible department for its available records.
How do I find the St. Paul vacant building list?
Open the city's Vacant Buildings page and follow the link to the current list. Note the update date, read the property's category, and obtain the supporting code-compliance report when needed.
Does Minneapolis publish vacant-property information?
Yes. Its Vacant Building Registration page links to the vacant and condemned property dashboard. Use the city's property information search and program instructions to interpret a particular address.
Is a vacant property necessarily condemned?
No. Vacancy concerns occupancy, while condemnation requires official action about unsafe conditions. Read the actual order and confirm whether any occupancy restriction remains active.
Does a vacant-property list show houses for sale?
Usually it records program or enforcement status, not a seller's offer. Confirm ownership, ask whether the owner wants to sell, and check applicable purchase and repair requirements separately.
Can FlaggedLeads verify every vacant property in a city?
No. It organizes records available from covered jurisdictions. Coverage and detail vary, and the absence of an app record does not establish that a property is occupied or free of restrictions.