Waukesha, WI Property Maintenance: Property Blight (2026)

18 gives the Building Inspector authority over any building or structure that becomes dangerous or unsafe: it must be taken down and removed unless it is made safe and secure. A structure the Inspector declares structurally unsafe can instead be restored, but if the damage or the cost of reconstruction exceeds 50% of the building's fair value, exclusive of foundations, the restored building must conform to current construction standards as though newly built. The process starts when the Inspector receives information that a building is dangerous to life, health or adjoining property because of bad condition, defective construction, overloaded floors, decay, lack of fire guards or general dilapidation.

After inspecting, the Inspector serves written notice on the owner or another interested party describing the unsafe conditions and ordering the building secured or removed, and posts a card reading "This Building Cannot be Used for Human Habitation, Occupancy or Use" on the outside wall; removing or defacing that notice is itself prohibited. If the building is used for a licensed purpose, the Inspector can have the license revoked until the building complies. If the owner fails to act within a reasonable time, or if public safety demands immediate action, the Inspector may enter the property with assistance, make it safe or remove it, and recover the cost from the owner or tenant in court or by levying it as a lien against the property.