(A) Any building or structure within the fire limits of the city which has been damaged by fire, decay, or other cause to the extent of 50% of its value, shall be expeditiously repaired or torn down and removed.
(B) Upon written notice by the Building Commissioner, Health Officer, Fire Marshal or any other city employee, filed with the City Clerk, the Clerk shall notify the Mayor of the receipt of the notice. The Mayor shall then appoint three persons to determine whether or not such building or structure has been damaged to the extent of 50% of its value. A copy of the notice filed by the city officer, together with a notice of the appointment of this board of three persons to determine the damage, shall be served upon the owner of the premises by personal service or by registered mail to his last known address.
(C) The notice shall be in substantially the following form:
"To
You are hereby notified that has determined that the building owned by you at located within the fire limits of the City has been damaged by fire, decay or otherwise to the extent of fifty percent of its value; and that a board of three members has been appointed to verify this finding, which board will hold its first meeting in the City Hall on the day of at the hour of o'clock, at which time it will determine whether this finding is correct.
If this finding is verified by the board, you must tear down and remove the said building."
(D) If the board of three members determines that the building in question has been damaged to the extent of 50% of its value, it shall be the duty of the owner to tear down or remove the building within 20 days after the finding of the board; and it shall be unlawful to occupy or permit the building to be occupied after such finding.
('69 Code, § 5-21)
Statutory reference:
Fire limits; defective buildings, see ILCS Ch. 65, Act 5 § 11-8-3