Berwyn, IL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Chapter 1462 of the Berwyn Code of Ordinances starts with a definition. A dangerous building is one whose walls lean or buckle beyond the middle third of its base, that shows 33% or more damage or deterioration of its supporting members or 50% of its nonsupporting outside walls or covering, that is overloaded, fire-damaged, dilapidated, unsanitary or unfit for human habitation, short on light, air, sanitation or egress, has parts that can fall, or violates the Fire Prevention Code or any other city ordinance (§ 1462.01(A) through (I)). Section 1462.02 declares every such building a public nuisance to be repaired, vacated or demolished.

Section 1462.03 tells the Director of Buildings which remedy to order. A building that can reasonably be repaired must be repaired. A building dangerous to its occupants must be vacated. A building 50% damaged, decayed or deteriorated from its original value or structure must be demolished, as must one that cannot be repaired or one that is a fire hazard. In an emergency, § 1462.04 lets the Building Director order immediate repair, vacation or demolition, with costs collected under § 1462.06.

The process runs through §§ 1462.05 and 1462.06. The Building Inspector inspects semiannually all public buildings, schools, halls, churches, theaters, hotels, tenements and commercial, manufacturing or loft buildings, and inspects on complaint or on a Fire or Police Department report. Written notice goes through the City Attorney to the owner, occupant, lessee, mortgagee and agents shown in the County Recorder of Deeds records, with a compliance period not to exceed 30 days, and a notice is posted on the building. Police and Fire employees must report suspected dangerous buildings in writing within 24 hours (§ 1462.08). If the order is not followed within ten days, the Director of Buildings causes the work to be done and charges the cost to the land as a municipal lien, adds it to the tax duplicate as a special tax, or sues the owner.

Section 1462.10 caps boarding-up: property cannot permanently stay boarded beyond 30 days, after which the Director can issue a local ordinance ticket and impose a fine until repair. If public health or welfare is threatened, the city can board the property at the owner's expense and lien it for the cost.