St. Clair County, IL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- SCC 29-3-3, vacant structures and land
- Condemnation trigger
- Unsafe, unfit, unlawful or dangerous structure
- Appeal deadline
- 20 days, $50 non-refundable fee
- Demolition cost
- Charged against property as a lien
- Penalty
- Misdemeanor petty offense, daily separate offense
- Emergency power
- Vacate order for imminent collapse danger
Summary
Unincorporated St. Clair County treats a vacant, unsafe or dangerous structure as a blight nuisance under Property Maintenance Code Section 29-3-3, and the code official can condemn, placard and ultimately order demolition of a building found unsafe, unfit for human occupancy or dangerous under Section 29-1-44, with abatement, emergency repair and demolition procedures spelled out in the sections that follow it.
29-3-3 Vacant structures and land. All vacant structures and premises thereof or vacant land shall be maintained in a clean, safe, secure and sanitary condition as provided herein so as not to cause a blighting problem or adversely affect the public health or safety. (IPMC 301.3) ... E. Dangerous structure or premises. For the purpose of this code, any structure or premises that has any or all of the conditions or defects described below shall be considered dangerous: ... 9. A building or structure, used or intended to be used for dwelling purposes, because of inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, damage, faulty construction or arrangement, inadequate light, ventilation, mechanical or plumbing system, or otherwise, is determined by the code official to be unsanitary, unfit for human habitation or in such a condition that is likely to cause sickness or disease. ... 29-1-49 Abatement methods. The owner, operator or occupant of a building, premises or equipment deemed unsafe by the code official shall abate or cause to be abated or corrected such unsafe conditions either by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or other approved corrective action. (IPMC 108.6)
Full Breakdown
" That duty connects to the code's broader unsafe-structure framework in Article I, Division VIII. Section 29-1-44 lets the code official condemn any structure found unsafe, unfit for human occupancy or unlawful, and defines a "dangerous structure" to include a dwelling that, through inadequate maintenance, dilapidation, decay, faulty construction or missing light, ventilation or plumbing, is unsanitary or unfit for human habitation. Once condemned, Section 29-1-46 requires posted and served notice, Section 29-1-47 lets the official placard the premises "Condemned," and Section 29-1-48 makes it unlawful to occupy a placarded structure.
Section 29-1-49 puts the abatement burden on the owner, operator or occupant, who must repair, rehabilitate or demolish; if imminent collapse or danger exists, Sections 29-1-51 through 29-1-55 authorize emergency vacate orders and let the County perform emergency repairs and bill the owner. Where repair is unreasonable, Section 29-1-57 authorizes the code official to order demolition outright, with the County able to demolish at the owner's expense and file a lien against the real estate under Section 29-1-59 if the owner fails to comply. Any owner may appeal a condemnation, notice or demolition order to the Board of Appeals within 20 days under Section 29-1-61, for a non-refundable $50 filing fee.
Violations of Section 29-3-3 and the related unsafe-structure sections carry the misdemeanor penalties of Section 29-1-36, and each day a violation continues after notice is a separate offense.
Violations & Fines
Failing to abate a vacant, unsafe or dangerous structure after notice is a misdemeanor under Section 29-1-36, punishable as a petty offense with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense. The code official may also pursue court action to restrain or abate the violation under Section 29-1-37, charge emergency repair or demolition costs against the property as a lien under Sections 29-1-55 and 29-1-59, and occupying or removing a "Condemned" placard carries its own penalty under Section 29-1-47(A).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does St. Clair County regulate blighted, vacant buildings on unincorporated land?
What can the County do about a dangerous, condemned building?
Can a property owner appeal a condemnation or demolition order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in St. Clair County
Compare St. Clair County to another location·View the Illinois property maintenance overview
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