The designation of dwellings or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and the procedure for the condemnation and placarding of such unfit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out in compliance with the following procedures:
(a) Finding of Defects. Any dwelling or dwelling unit which shall be found to have any of the following serious defects may be condemned as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the Building Inspector:
(1) One which is so damaged, decayed, dilapidated, unsanitary, unsafe, or vermin-infested that it creates a serious hazard to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants (actual or prospective) or of the public.
(2) One which lacks illumination, ventilation, heating, basic equipment, or sanitation facilities adequate to protect the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants (actual or prospective) or of the public.
(3) One which, because of its general condition of disrepair, is unsanitary or otherwise dangerous to the health, safety, or welfare of the occupants (actual or prospective) or of the public.
(4) One which has a history of structural fires and inadequate subsequent repairs.
(5) One which, because of its general condition, location or appearance, is a blighting influence or causes a decrease in the valuation of property in the immediate neighborhood.
(b) Designation as Unfit for Human Habitation; Vacation of Premises. Any dwelling, dwelling unit, building or structure designated and placarded by the Building Inspector as unfit for human habitation until necessary repairs are made or the structure is razed shall be vacated within such a reasonable time as is ordered by the Building Inspector.
(c) Unfit Dwelling Not to be Reoccupied. No building or structure or part thereof which has been designated and placarded as unfit for human habitation and in need of repairs or razing shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and such placard is removed by, the Building Inspector. The Building Inspector shall remove such placard whenever the defect or defects upon which the designation and placarding action were based have been properly addressed and corrected.
(d) Defacement or Removal of Condemnation Notices. No person shall deface or remove the placard from any building or structure, or part thereof, which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such.
(e) Legal Proceeding for Razing Order. Any building or structure or part thereof designated as unfit for human habitation and in need of repairs or razing by the Building Inspector, which in the opinion of the Building Inspector would be unreasonable to repair, shall be razed or removed upon legal written service of the order of the Building Inspector. If the owner shall fail or refuse to comply with the order, the Building Inspector shall refer such violation to the Village Board and Village Attorney who will start any legal proceedings necessary to cause such building to be razed or removed as a violation of this Chapter. Any dwelling declared structurally unsafe or unsanitary shall be razed or restored according to the provisions of Sec. 66.0413, Wis. Stats.
(f) Vacant Buildings to be Secured From Entry. Any building which has been vacant for more than thirty (30) days due to damage, disrepair or vandalism shall be secured against unauthorized entry, except as provided under Subsection (f)(2) below. This shall include adequately boarding up and securing doors, windows, and other openings in a workmanlike manner so as to not present an attractive nuisance and to prevent illegal entry, vandalism or damage:
(1) The building's utilities, plumbing, electrical and heating systems in such vacant building shall be maintained at all times when possible in a safe condition or inactivated so as to prevent the possibility of damage to the structure by the failure of such utilities and so as to prevent the existence of hazardous, unsanitary, and dangerous conditions.
(2) When any building has been seriously damaged by fire, weather or other cause and when hazardous or dangerous conditions exist and when such building cannot be secured by conventional locking or boarding up of windows and doors, such building shall be fenced off so as to prevent access and entry to the structure and the area immediately surrounding the structure within seven (7) days of the damage by fire, weather or other cause.
State Law Reference: Section 66.0413, Wis. Stats.