Arlington Heights, IL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 26-202 defines a vacant building, for Article II purposes, as any commercial building that remains unoccupied for 60 days or more, and requires all vacant buildings and their accessory structures to be maintained under the Village's property maintenance requirements. Owners must remove signs and supporting structures per Chapter 30, and Section 26-202(d) bars nine specific conditions on the property, including buildings boarded up, partially destroyed, or left in a state of partial construction for 60 days or more; broken windows; illegally parked vehicles; deteriorated accessory buildings or exteriors; trash, debris, or solid waste as defined in Chapter 19; abandoned or discarded objects, vehicles, or equipment; stagnant water; unsightly fences or structures; and dirt piles or broken pavement and concrete debris.

Enforcement runs through Section 26-203: the Village Manager or a designee serves a notice of violation by certified mail or personal service directing the owner to make repairs or discontinue the illegal condition. 00, with each day the violation continues counted as a separate offense. If the failure endangers public health, safety, or welfare and the owner still has not acted within 45 days, Section 26-203(c) lets the Village Manager apply to the Circuit Court of Cook County for an order to take corrective action, bill the owner for the reasonable cost, and, under Section 26-203(d), file a lien on the property with the Cook County Recorder within 180 days that is superior to all other liens and encumbrances except tax liens.