Dubuque, IA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Dubuque City Code title 14, chapter 3 lets the building official inspect and declare a structure a "dangerous building" when conditions such as fire damage, structural collapse risk, or 33 percent or more deterioration of supporting members exist (14-3-1, 14-3-2, 14-3-3). Once declared, the building is a public nuisance to be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition or removal (14-3-3(D)). The building official issues a written notice and order to the record owner describing the dangerous conditions and requiring repair permits secured and work commenced within 60 days of the order, or, for demolition, vacation and permits within 60 days with completion in a reasonable time (14-3-4(B)).

A property owner or lienholder can appeal to the Building Code and Advisory Appeals Board within 10 days of service, which stays enforcement except for vacation orders (14-3-6). If repair or demolition is not commenced within 30 days after a final order takes effect, the building official posts a "DANGEROUS BUILDING, DO NOT ENTER" notice, and no person may enter or deface it until the certificate of occupancy issues (14-3-8(C)). The official may grant up to an additional 120 days on request (14-3-8(D)). If the owner still fails to act, the city performs the repair or demolition by city crews or private contract, keeps an itemized account of expense, and certifies the cost to the city clerk, who certifies it to the county treasurer as a special assessment lien collected like general property taxes (14-3-9, 14-3-10).