Johnson County, IA Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing official
- Johnson County Zoning Administrator
- Trigger condition
- damaged, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin-infested
- Placarded unit
- must be vacated immediately
- Referral
- to IBC dangerous-building abatement authority
- First-offense infraction penalty
- up to $750
Summary
Johnson County placards and can order the immediate vacation of any rental dwelling so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin infested that it endangers occupants or the public, under UDO Section 8:7.6(B). If an owner takes no remedial action, the inspector refers the case to the authority enforcing the International Building Code's dangerous-building abatement provisions.
1. Placarding Procedures. Any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit or rental rooming unit found to be so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin infested that it creates a hazard to the health or safety of the occupants or of the public shall be determined to be unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the Zoning Administrator. ... 5. Condemnation Referral. After a reasonable period of time after a property has been placarded and no remedial action begun, the inspector may refer the case to the authority charged with enforcement of the International Building code for the abatement of dangerous buildings, as amended, for appropriate action.
Full Breakdown
6(B)(1) authorizes the Zoning Administrator to designate and placard as unfit for human habitation any rental dwelling, rental dwelling unit or rental rooming unit that is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe or vermin infested that it creates a hazard to the health or safety of its occupants or the public. 6(B)(3) bars anyone from reoccupying it until the Administrator issues written approval and removes the placard, which happens only once the defects that caused the placarding are eliminated. 6(B)(4). 6(B)(5) lets the inspector refer the case to the authority charged with enforcing the International Building Code's dangerous-building abatement provisions for further action, layering the county's own condemnation process on top of the IBC's structural abatement powers.
6(A) can require immediate vacation, without prior notice or hearing, whenever a condition threatens the health or safety of occupants or the public. This framework applies within the unincorporated areas of Johnson County and specifically to rental dwellings; it is not a general junk-and-debris nuisance ordinance for owner-occupied property.
Violations & Fines
Reoccupying a placarded rental dwelling without the Zoning Administrator's written approval, or removing a placard without authorization, is a separate violation of Section 8:7.6(B). Because Rental Housing Code violations are enforced under Chapter 8:8, an unresolved condemnation or placarding order can become a County infraction under Section 8:8.3, carrying a civil penalty of up to $750 for a first offense and $1,000 for a repeat offense, with each day of continued noncompliance a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Johnson County condemn a rental unit?
What happens if the owner does nothing after a placard is posted?
Can I move back into a placarded rental unit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Johnson County
Compare Johnson County to another location·View the Iowa property maintenance overview
See something wrong?
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.