(A) Securing. Whenever a structure is abandoned, vacated or damaged by fire, weather, collision, break-in or accident, it shall be the owner’s responsibility to secure and/or board up the structure within 48 hours. If, in the opinion of the Chief of Inspections, or highest ranking fire official on scene, it is considered dangerous to the health, welfare and safety of the Citizens of the City of Hammond, it shall be secured or boarded up by the owner within 24 hours.
(B) If the owner of the property is unavailable, unwilling or unable to secure the property, the City of Hammond, through the Inspections Department, or by order of the Hammond Fire or Police Department, may hire a contractor to secure or board up the structure and the owner shall be responsible for the cost incurred by the City of Hammond. All dangerous, hazardous, or flammable materials including waste and rubbish shall be removed prior to securing or boarding up the structure.
(C) The Hammond Inspections Department, if not compensated by the owner of the property within 10 days, may lien the property for the costs incurred including recovery of all recording fees incurred and a processing fee of $50 per board up incident.
(Prior Code, § 150.45) (Ord. 6066, passed 7-27-1987; Am. Ord. 8435, passed 7-22-2002; Am. Ord. 9401, passed 2-12-2018) Penalty, see § 150.999