Sauk County, WI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger
- Dilapidated, unsecured building unfit for use
- Enforcement
- Sauk County Health Department / health officer
- Process
- Written order naming violation and deadline
- Penalty
- $50-$200 forfeiture per day, plus costs
- Appeal
- Chapter 33 appeal of health officer's decision
Summary
In unincorporated Sauk County, a building that is dilapidated, neglected or out-of-repair, dangerous, unsafe or unfit for use, and left unsecured against entry, is declared a 'human health hazard' under Sec. 28.011(3)(f), letting the Health Department order its abatement or condemn it for habitation.
(3)Human health hazards enumerated. The following, except to the extent as incorporated into approved agricultural practices, it not being the intent of this ordinance to regulate approved agricultural practices, are hereby expressly declared to be human health hazards without limitation by reason of such enumeration: ... (f)Maintaining a building or structure which is dilapidated, neglected, or out-of-repair so as to be dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for use, and for which no appropriate precautions to prevent entry by persons, such as posting fencing or closure of entrance ways, have been taken.
Full Breakdown
Chapter 28, the Human Health Hazards Ordinance, is administered by the Sauk County Health Department under the Board of Health per Sec. 28.004, and reaches all air, land and water within the county's jurisdiction under Sec. 28.008. Sec. 28.011(1) prohibits anyone from causing, maintaining or permitting a human health hazard and makes the responsible party liable for abatement costs. Sec. 28.011(3)(f) specifically enumerates a dilapidated, neglected or out-of-repair structure, unsecured against entry, as a hazard without limiting the county to only that example. A dwelling with the same defects can additionally be designated unfit for human habitation under Sec.
28.012, condemned and placarded by the health officer, and may not be reoccupied until the health officer reinspects and removes the placard. Sec. 28.014 lets the health officer issue a temporary order under Wis. Stats. § 66.0417(2) when the hazard is immediate. For an ordinary hazard, Sec. 28.015(1) requires a written order naming the violation, the deadline to fix it and the applicable penalty, served personally or by certified mail; if the address is unknown the order may be posted on the premises. An aggrieved owner has a right to appeal under Sauk County Code Chapter 33, per Sec. 28.016.
Violations & Fines
Noncompliance lets the county issue a citation and forfeiture under Chapter 20, seek a court-ordered forfeiture or injunction, or enter the property to abate the hazard itself and bill the cost through the property tax roll, per Sec. 28.015(3)-(4). Sec. 28.015(6) sets the underlying penalty at $50.00 to $200.00 per day, plus assessments and prosecution costs, with jail possible for nonpayment.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes a building a 'human health hazard' in Sauk County?
What does the Health Department do about it?
What happens if the owner ignores the order?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sauk County
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