McHenry County, IL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 116 of the county's amended International Building Code (adopted under § 15.04.010) defines an unsafe structure broadly: inadequate egress, inadequate light or ventilation, fire hazard, illegal or improper occupancy, or inadequate maintenance all qualify, and the building official can order the structure "taken down and removed or made safe." The code goes further on vacant property: "a vacant structure that is not secured against entry shall be deemed unsafe" on that fact alone, no separate finding required. An owner may board up a vacant structure as a stopgap, but boarding is capped at six months, or less at the building official's discretion, before a permanent remedy, repair or demolition, is required.

Once a structure is flagged, § 116.3 requires the building official to serve written notice describing the unsafe condition and demanding the owner declare, within a stated time, what repairs will be made or that the structure will be demolished. Refusing or neglecting that notice triggers § 116.6: the building official refers the matter to the State's Attorney's Office "to pursue recourse provided by law," moving enforcement from an administrative notice into legal action.

Section 117 covers emergencies: if collapse or failure is imminent, the building official can order occupants to vacate immediately and post a notice reading "This Structure is Unsafe and its Occupancy has been prohibited by the Code Official," after which entry is unlawful except for repairs or demolition. The official can also close adjacent streets and sidewalks, perform emergency repairs using county labor and materials, and bill the cost back to the owner, with the State's Attorney authorized to sue for repayment if the owner does not pay.