Benton County, OR Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Adopted model code
- 1994 ICBO Uniform Code for Abatement of Dangerous Buildings
- Appeal window
- 10 days from notice or order
- Remedy
- Repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal
- Unpaid lien interest
- 10% per year after 30 days delinquent
Summary
Unsafe or dilapidated buildings in unincorporated Benton County are declared public nuisances under the county's Dangerous Buildings Code, which adopts the 1994 ICBO Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. The building official can order repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal, and a property owner has only 10 days to appeal a notice or order.
11.270 - Dangerous Buildings Code. 11.275 - Unsafe Buildings. (1)All buildings or structures regulated by this code which are structurally unsafe or not provided with adequate egress, or which constitute a fire hazard, or are otherwise dangerous to human life are, for the purpose of this section, unsafe. ... (2)All such unsafe buildings, structures or appendages are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal in accordance with the procedures set forth in the Dangerous Buildings Code, or such alternate procedures as may have been or as may be adopted by this jurisdiction. ... 11.280 - Adoption of Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings. The 1994 ICBO Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings is adopted as part hereof, except as modified by this jurisdiction in 11.295. ... 11.295 - Time Period for Appeal. Notwithstanding Section 401.2.5 of the Dangerous Building Code as adopted by subsection 11.270 and 11.275 above, the time period for appeals from notices, orders, or actions of the building official shall be 10 days.
Full Breakdown
275 defines an unsafe building broadly: any structure that is structurally unsafe, lacks adequate egress, constitutes a fire hazard, or is otherwise dangerous to human life, along with any use that is hazardous to safety, health or public welfare because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, obsolescence, fire hazard, disaster damage or abandonment. Deteriorated parapet walls, cornices, spires, towers, tanks, statuary and similar appendages that cannot sustain the design loads specified in the code are separately designated unsafe building appendages. 275(2) declares all such unsafe buildings, structures or appendages public nuisances that must be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal following the Dangerous Buildings Code procedures, though the building official may instead pursue any other appropriate action, including a court proceeding, to prevent, restrain, correct or abate the violation. 290. 095.
Violations & Fines
Costs the county incurs abating a dangerous building become a lien against the property under § 11.300, treated as a routine property-owner obligation once placed on the assessment roll; unpaid assessments become delinquent after 30 days and accrue interest at 10% per year, with the lien enforced under ORS Chapter 223 and given priority over other liens. The building official can also disconnect utilities in an immediate hazard under § 11.065 and issue a stop-work order under § 11.060.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'unsafe' under Benton County's code?
How long do I have to appeal a dangerous building order?
What happens if I don't pay the county's abatement costs?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Benton County
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