(A) The owner of any building or premises within the village who receives a notice of determination of vacancy pursuant to § 155.04, or who knows or should have known that his or her building is or has become a vacant building or premises within the meaning of this chapter, shall, within 30 days after receipt of such notice, if applicable, or after the building becomes vacant, apply for and obtain a vacant building registration certificate, provide evidence of the insurance required by division (F) below and pay a base registration fee of $75 for a vacant building. The application shall include the name, street address and telephone number of an individual 21 years of age or older, designated by the owner as the authorized agent designated by the owner for receiving any notices sent pursuant to this chapter, and notices of code violations and for receiving process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding, on behalf of such owner or owners in connection with the enforcement of this chapter. The authorized agent must either reside in or maintain an office within Will County, Illinois. Any owner who meets the residency or office requirement may designate himself or herself as the authorized agent. By designating an authorized agent under the provisions of this division the owner is consenting to receive any and all notices of code violations concerning the registered building and all process in any court proceeding or administrative enforcement proceeding brought to enforce code provisions concerning the registered building by service of the notice or process on the authorized agent. Any owner who has designated an authorized agent under the provisions of this division shall be deemed to consent to the continuation of the agent's designation for the purposes of this division until the owner notifies the village of a change of authorized agent. Any owner who fails to register a vacant building under the provisions of this division shall further be deemed to consent to receive, by posting at the building, any and all notices of code violations and all process in an administrative proceeding brought to enforce code provisions concerning the building. If the building or lot is initially registered after being cited for a violation, the initial base registration fee shall be increased to $150.
(B) The owner of a vacant building shall comply with all regulations of the village. To this end, the owner shall apply for all building, fire prevention and zoning permits necessary to bring the structure into compliance within 14 days of obtaining a vacant building registration certificate.
(C) The owner of a vacant building shall provide access to the Administrator or his or her designee, upon reasonable notice, to conduct an exterior or interior inspection of the vacant building to determine compliance with this chapter, during the period covered by the initial registration or any subsequent renewal. The fee for an inspection shall be fifty $50. The fee for any reinspection, if necessary, shall be $25. If the owner of the vacant building fails or refuses to consent to an inspection, the Administrator may seek an administrative warrant from the circuit court of Will County for the purposes set forth in this chapter.
(D) The owner of a vacant building shall, within 14 days of receipt of the vacant building registration certificate, complete the removal of all: 1) combustible materials from the structure in compliance with the applicable fire prevention regulations; 2) waste, rubbish or debris from the interior of the building: and 3) waste, rubbish, debris or excessive vegetation from the yards surrounding the vacant building in accordance with the vacant building maintenance standards of this chapter.
(E) The owner of a vacant building shall immediately lock, barricade or secure all doors, windows and other openings in the building to prohibit entry by unauthorized persons, in accordance with the vacant building maintenance standards of this chapter.
(F) The owner of a vacant building shall, within 30 days of vacancy, acquire or otherwise maintain liability insurance, or a homeowner's insurance policy provided that such policy continues to cover third party liability, even if the insured building becomes vacant, in an amount of not less than $250,000 for buildings designed primarily for use as residential units and not less than $1,000,000 for any other building, including, but not limited to, buildings designed for manufacturing, industrial, storage or commercial uses, covering any damage to any person or any property caused by any physical condition of or in the building and maintain coverage until the building is no longer vacant. Any insurance policy acquired after the building has become vacant shall provide for written notice to the Administrator within 30 days of any lapse, cancellation, or change in coverage. The owner shall provide evidence of insurance, upon initial registration and all subsequent registration renewals.
(G) The obligations of the owner of a vacant building are continuing obligations which are effective throughout the time of vacancy, as that term is defined in this chapter.
(H) The mortgagee of any residential building that has become vacant and which is not registered pursuant to this chapter shall, within the later of 30 days after the building becomes vacant and unregistered or 60 days after a default, file a registration statement with the Administrator as set forth herein, and shall have all the obligations of an owner as set forth herein.
(Ord. 21-03, passed 4-26-21; Am. Ord. 21-15, passed 6-28-21)