Kokomo, IN Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing section
- § 150.47
- Max fine
- $2,500 per occurrence (§ 150.99(B))
- Enforcement authority
- Dept. of Engineering, Traffic & Inspection Services
- State law basis
- IC 36-7-9 unsafe building statute
- Window/door repair deadline
- 10 days after notice (§ 150.53)
Summary
Kokomo declares any building the enforcement authority finds unsafe under § 150.47 of the Kokomo Code of Ordinances a public nuisance, to be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal. The Department of Engineering, Traffic, and Inspection Services administers the process under state law, IC 36-7-9, and can seal a dangerous structure against entry, while violators of the subchapter face a fine of up to $2,500 per day under § 150.99(B).
§ 150.47 DECLARATION OF PUBLIC NUISANCE. ... All buildings or portions thereof within the city which are determined after inspection by the enforcement authority to be unsafe as defined in this subchapter are hereby declared to be public nuisances and shall be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal. ... § 150.99 PENALTY. ... (B) Any person violating the provisions of §§ 150.45 through 150.53 shall be fined not more than $2,500. Each day a violation continues shall be treated as a separate occurrence. Any person in violation of the provisions of §§ 150.45 through 150.53 may be assessed a civil penalty and/or infraction as designated by IC 36-7-9 et seq.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 150's building-standards subchapter, §§ 150.45 through 150.53, adopts Indiana's unsafe-building statute, IC 36-7-9-1 et seq., and layers local definitions on top of it. Section 150.46 supplements the state "unsafe building" definition with seven local conditions, including inadequate fire exits, construction that falls below 50% of required non-supporting strength or 66% of supporting strength, dwellings the enforcement authority finds unsanitary or unfit for habitation, abandoned structures left more than six months, and commercial or industrial buildings with broken or missing windows or doors covered in mismatched material.
Once the enforcement authority, the chief officer of the Department of Engineering, Traffic, and Inspection Services or a designee, inspects and finds a building meets that definition, § 150.47 declares it a public nuisance outright, to be abated by repair, rehabilitation, demolition, or removal. Section 150.48 lets the enforcement authority order that repair or removal, while § 150.49 limits that discretion to enforcing existing rules, not inventing new conditions. Section 150.50 lets the authority go further and physically seal an unsafe building against unauthorized entry under IC 36-7-9-5(a)(2).
Any repair work performed afterward must meet trade-standard workmanship under § 150.51, and the city funds abatement costs through a dedicated Unsafe Building Fund created under § 150.52 and IC 36-7-9-14, which the city can bill back to the property owner and file as a lien if unpaid.
Violations & Fines
Violating §§ 150.45 through 150.53, including ignoring an unsafe-building order, is fined up to $2,500 per occurrence under § 150.99(B), with each day of continued violation a separate offense, and the city may additionally pursue a civil penalty or infraction under IC 36-7-9. Section 150.53 separately fines anyone who alters, repairs, or occupies a building in violation of an enforcement order, and requires a broken or mismatched window or door to be repaired within ten days of notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building 'unsafe' under Kokomo's code?
Can the city seal my building?
What is the penalty for an unsafe building violation?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Kokomo
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