Muncie, IN Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

Section 98.20 lets the city board of health declare a dwelling, structure, excavation, business, or thing on a lot a public nuisance and order it removed, abated, altered, improved, or purified, or the board can instead order repairs or cleaning under Section 98.21. Notice must be written and served personally or by registered mail, or posted and published if the owner cannot be found, and Section 98.22 gives the owner up to 60 days to correct the violation. If reinspection under Section 98.23 shows the problem persists, Section 98.24 issues a second notice giving only five more days, which Section 98.26 records with the county recorder's office and which Section 98.27 binds onto later owners.

A dwelling found unfit under Section 98.35, or a vacant building found detrimental to public health, safety, or welfare under Section 98.36, can be ordered vacated within 15 days under Section 98.28. The board may make the repairs itself if the cost stays under 50 percent of the structure's fair market value under Section 98.31, and the owner is liable for the city's costs and attorney's fees under Section 98.30. If an owner will not demolish a structure declared unfit within the notice period set by Section 98.37, Section 98.40 lets the board apply to circuit or superior court for a demolition order, with the cost recoverable from the owner like a private creditor's debt, and Section 98.41 requires any resulting excavation to be filled in. Owners can seek reconsideration, an informal conference, and judicial review under Sections 98.44 through 98.49.