A. Any owner who knows, or from all the facts and circumstances should know, that his or her building is a "vacant building" within the meaning of this chapter, or the owner who is provided a written determination from the village that his or her building is a vacant building, shall take the following actions within seven (7) days after the earlier of: 1) the date of director's notice of determination that the building is a vacant building or 2) the occurrence of the facts that would cause a reasonable person to believe that the building was a vacant building, whichever is applicable, except otherwise provided herein:
1. Register the building with the village, by submitting a form provided by the director accompanied by the annual nonprorated vacant building registration fee as provided in the annual fee schedule then in effect. The form shall include, as a minimum, the name, street address, and telephone number of the owner (with a responder or emergency operator on call on a 24 hour basis); the case name and number of any litigation pending concerning or affecting the building, including bankruptcy cases; and the name, street address, and telephone number of all persons with any legal interest in the building or the premises. The form shall require the owner to identify the name, street address (post office box is not acceptable), and telephone number of a natural person twenty one (21) years of age or older who maintains a permanent address in Lake County, Illinois, to accept service on behalf of the owner with respect to any notices the director sends pursuant to this chapter or service of process in any proceeding commenced to enforce any provision of this chapter. The form shall require the owner to indicate his or her "acceptance of notice by posting" consenting to service of notices sent or required to be sent, pursuant to this chapter, by posting on the building if the owner fails to renew the registration, if required, or maintain as current with the director the information required regarding the person designated to accept notice and service of process.
2. Renew the vacant building registration each year on the anniversary date of the first filing for the time the building remains a vacant building and pay the annual fee as provided in the annual fee schedule.
3. File an amended registration within fifteen (15) days of any change in the information contained in the annual registration. A new registration is required for any change in ownership whatsoever.
4. Allow for code compliance inspections of the vacant building and surrounding land to determine the extent of compliance with all applicable property maintenance, building, electrical, plumbing, fire and similar codes and ordinances. After the owner's receipt of the notice of determination that the owner's building is a vacant building, the owner shall either confirm the tentative date for the inspection set forth in the notice or shall schedule a new date and time for same with the director. If the owner fails to confirm the tentative date and time for the inspection or refuses to schedule or permit the inspection within a reasonable time, the village may obtain an administrative search warrant to accomplish the inspection.
5. Pay all costs and fees due to the village as provided in the annual fee schedule, including those resulting from code compliance inspection within thirty (30) days of the inspection.
6. Obtain public liability insurance insuring against loss arising from bodily injury or property damage occurring on or about the premises and maintain such insurance for as long as the building is a vacant building, and file evidence of such insurance with the director. Such insurance shall have a minimum limit of liability of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00).
7. On written notice from the village, provide bonded, licensed, and insured security guard service at the vacant building between the hours of three o'clock (3:00) P.M. and eight o'clock (8:00) A.M. Such service to remain in place until the village gives written notice that the service is no longer required. The village president may require such service when the director makes a written determination that the vacant building constitutes a fire hazard, is otherwise dangerous to human life or the public welfare, or involves illegal or improper use, occupancy, or maintenance, under such conditions that securing the building without fencing would be insufficient to prevent the actual or threatened harm.
B. If the owner's obligation to register a vacant building is stayed pending an appeal to the village president, then the owner shall comply with the provisions of this chapter within seven (7) days after the appeal under section 4-7-6 of this chapter is denied by the village president. (Ord. 14-02-02, 2-4-2014)