Waukegan, IL Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)
Key Facts
- Authority
- Building department, Sec. 6-267
- Lien interest
- 10 percent per annum
- Lien filing deadline
- 60 days of cost incurred
- Foreclosure deadline
- 3 years from lien filing
- Default fine range
- $25.00 to $750.00 per day (Sec. 1-13)
Summary
Waukegan's building department can demolish or repair dangerous, unsafe, uncompleted or abandoned buildings anywhere in the city under Sec. 6-267, then bill the owner and file a lien against the property that carries 10 percent annual interest.
The building department of the city may demolish, repair or cause the demolition or repair of dangerous and unsafe buildings or uncompleted and abandoned buildings within the territory of the city. ... Such demolition, repair or boarding up or enclosure shall be at the sole expense of the owner(s) of such real estate. ... the city may perform the acts authorized by the order and charge any expenses or costs so incurred as a lien against the real estate, which lien shall incur interest at the rate of ten percent per annum.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 113).
Full Breakdown
Under Sec. 6-267, the building department may demolish, repair, or cause the demolition or repair of dangerous and unsafe buildings or uncompleted and abandoned buildings within the city. Sec. 6-268 lets the city use any alternative method for securing demolition or repair set out in 65 ILCS 5/11-31-1, including court-ordered demolition or expedited demolition and remediation. Sec. 6-269 makes the cost the sole expense of the owner: if the owner fails to comply with a court order, the city can perform the work and charge the costs as a lien against the real estate.
That lien accrues interest at ten percent per annum and is superior to all prior liens except unpaid taxes, provided the city files a notice of lien in the county recorder's office within 60 days of incurring the cost. Sec. 6-271 requires the notice of lien to describe the real estate, state the cost and interest, and give the date the expense was incurred; once paid, the city releases the lien, and it may otherwise foreclose the lien as in the case of mortgages or mechanic's liens, with suit to foreclose required within three years of the filing date. Division 2 (Secs. 4 of the BOCA Property Maintenance Code.
Violations & Fines
No specific fine is set for Article IX itself; unpaid demolition or repair costs become a lien on the property at 10 percent annual interest, filed with the county recorder within 60 days, foreclosable within three years. General code violations without a stated penalty fall back on Sec. 1-13, fined $25.00 to $750.00 per day, each day a separate offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Waukegan demolish a dangerous building without going to court first?
Who pays for a city-ordered demolition in Waukegan?
What must be done to a lot after a building is demolished?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Waukegan
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