Chicago Heights — Ch. 22 Housing, Dangerous Buildings and Structures § 22-15
Vacant buildings
Operative Text
All vacant buildings shall be secured as follows: All doors, windows and other openings shall be secure from entry and enclosed with the materials customarily used for their construction or manufacture. One-half inch wire screening may be installed over the glazed areas of windows and doors to prevent vandalism. In the event a structure is repeatedly vandalized or poses a threat to the health, safety or welfare of the public, the director of code enforcement or his designee may order the structure secured by boarding the windows and doors. In the event a structure is damaged by fire or other catastrophe, the owner may board the windows and doors for a period not to exceed sixty (60) days during which time repairs shall be made. The director of code enforcement or his designee may extend the period for an additional sixty (60) days when presented with good and sufficient reasons for failure of the owner or occupant to remove such board. Every owner or occupant of a structure that shall be in violation of this section upon its effective date, shall have ninety (90) days to comply with the provisions of this section.
Chicago Heights Ch. 22 § 22-15 establishes specific requirements for how vacant buildings must be kept secure. All openings such as doors and windows must be enclosed with their standard construction materials, though wire screening may be added over glazed areas to deter vandalism. When a building is repeatedly vandalized or poses a public safety risk, the director of code enforcement can order boarding of windows and doors. After fire or other catastrophic damage, boarding is permitted for up to 60 days—with a possible 60-day extension for good cause—during which repairs must be undertaken.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and owners of vacant properties in Chicago Heights are generally expected to maintain all openings with standard construction materials as required under Ch. 22 § 22-15. When a property suffers fire or catastrophic damage, compliant owners typically begin repairs promptly within the initial 60-day boarding window and document reasons for any delay if seeking an extension from the director of code enforcement. Owners whose properties were already in violation when § 22-15 took effect had a 90-day grace period to come into compliance, meaning ongoing non-compliance is no longer excused by that transition period.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants and neighbors affected by an unsecured vacant building may find that Ch. 22 § 22-15 provides a basis for raising concerns with Chicago Heights code enforcement authorities. The provision gives the director of code enforcement authority to order boarding of structures that repeatedly attract vandalism or threaten public health, safety, or welfare. Individuals concerned about a non-compliant vacant property can contact the city's code enforcement office directly, or consult a tenant-rights organization to understand what options may be available under this section.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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