Sedgwick County, KS Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Enforcing agency
- MABCD (Metropolitan Area Building & Construction Dept.)
- Prerequisite
- Prior conviction within 12 months (Sec. 19-45)
- Minimum compliance window
- At least 10 days (Sec. 19-46(d))
- Appeal body
- 5-member Nuisance Appeals Board, no filing fee
- Cost recovery
- Unpaid abatement costs become a property lien
- Underlying violation class
- Class F, $50-$150 fines (Sec. 8-5)
- Scope
- Unincorporated Sedgwick County only
Summary
Sedgwick County's Metropolitan Area Building and Construction Department can order a dangerous or substandard structure on unincorporated land repaired or demolished under the county's nuisance abatement code, Sec. 19-41 through 19-56. The process only starts after the property owner has already been convicted of a county nuisance violation within the prior twelve months, then the board of county commissioners can order abatement, with unpaid costs placed as a lien on the property.
If a public nuisance continues to exist after the final judgment in the matter described within section 19-45, the MABCD director can initiate a nuisance abatement action by filing with the Sedgwick County Clerk a statement in writing describing a nuisance and declaring that such nuisance is a menace and dangerous to the health of inhabitants of Sedgwick County. ... If the board approves a resolution that determines a public nuisance exists on the property, the board may also issue an order requiring that the public nuisance be removed or abated by the property owner, which may include but not be limited to requiring the repair or demolition of any structure. The order shall state that all costs associated with the abatement shall be paid by the property owner on which the public nuisance is located.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 22 Update 1).
Full Breakdown
The nuisance abatement code exists to protect residents of unincorporated Sedgwick County from structures and conditions that are, in the code's own words, 'menaces and dangerous to the health of the inhabitants,' per Sec. 19-42's declared purpose. Unlike a typical dangerous-building ordinance, this one has a built-in check: under Sec. 19-45, the county cannot start an abatement action against a property until it has already obtained a conviction for a county code violation tied to the nuisance, and that conviction has to be final within the twelve months before the board of county commissioners issues its order.
Once that threshold is met, the MABCD director files a written nuisance statement with the county clerk, the item goes on a board of county commissioners agenda, and the property owner, any mortgage holder, and any lienholder of record get written notice at least fifteen days ahead of the hearing (Sec. 19-46(a)-(b)). If the board finds a public nuisance exists, it can order the owner to remove or abate it within not less than ten days, and that order can require repairing or demolishing a structure outright (Sec.
19-46(c)-(d)). An owner who disagrees can request a hearing before the five-member Sedgwick County Nuisance Appeals Board at no cost, scheduled no sooner than twenty days out, and all abatement activity is stayed while the appeal is pending (Sec. 19-46(f), 19-47, 19-48). If the owner still does not comply, county staff or a county contractor can do the work directly and the county bills the owner; unpaid abatement costs after sixty days become a special assessment certified to the county clerk and placed as a lien against the property (Sec.
19-49). Farms and other agricultural land, structures, machinery and stored grain are carved out entirely under Sec. 19-52. The underlying nuisance conditions that trigger the initial conviction, including dilapidated accessory buildings and structures that threaten health or safety, are defined in Sec. 19-22.
Violations & Fines
The predicate nuisance violation under Sec. 19-22 is a class F offense under Sec. 19-23(c), fined $50.00 for a first conviction, $100.00 for a second, and $150.00 for a third within twelve months, per the county's Sec. 8-5 fine schedule. Once the board of county commissioners orders abatement and the owner misses the deadline, the county can perform the repair or demolition itself and recover its full cost from the owner, with any unpaid balance after sixty days certified as a lien against the property.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Sedgwick County order my building torn down without a court case first?
How much time do I get to fix the problem once the county orders abatement?
Can I appeal a nuisance abatement order?
Does this apply to farm buildings?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Sedgwick County
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