Colona CHAPTER 2 RENTAL HOUSING1 § 9-2-10-6
CONDEMNED BUILDINGS
Operative Text
A. Removal By Owner: 1. Order To Demolish: A dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, hotel or motel which subject to condemnation and placarding as unfit for human habitation may be ordered demolished by the Building Inspector if it is determined by the Building Inspector that such defects upon which the condemnation order is based cannot be economically remedied. 2. Demolition: Demolition according to requirements listed below may be required of the owner within a reasonable period of time, said period of time to be not less than thirty (30) days after notice is served on said owner. Such demolition shall have the effect of fulfilling the requirements of removing defects if the dwelling structure is razed to ground level and any subsurface area is filled with solid material to ground level. B. Removal By City: A dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, hotel or motel which has been condemned as unfit for human habitation and ordered demolished and which has not been demolished by the owner within the time specified in such demolition order, may be demolished at the expense of the owner, according to the following procedure: 1. In accordance with the provisions of the Uniform Code for the Abatement of Dangerous Buildings and pursuant to 65 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/11-31-1, the corporate authorities shall apply to the Circuit Court of Henry County for an order authorizing the demolition of said dwelling, dwelling unit, rooming unit, hotel or motel unfit for human habitation. 2. After order of demolition is entered in the Circuit Court of Henry County, the corporate authorities shall then proceed to demolish said building or dwelling, dwelling unit, hotel or motel, or rooming house at the owner's expense. 3. Cost Of Removal; Lien: All expenses incurred, including attorney fees, shall be the responsibility of the owner of record, and said expenses, including attorney fees, shall further be a lien on the real estate. C. Accessory Buildings: All accessory buildings must be removed at the time of removal of the principal building. (1997 Code)
Under Colona § 9-2-10-6, when a dwelling, rooming unit, hotel, or motel is condemned as unfit for human habitation, the Building Inspector may order it demolished if the defects cannot be economically remedied. The owner is given at least 30 days after notice to carry out the demolition, which is considered complete when the structure is razed to ground level and any subsurface voids are filled. If the owner fails to act within the specified timeframe, the City of Colona may seek a Circuit Court order to demolish the building itself and charge all resulting costs—including attorney fees—back to the owner as a lien on the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Colona § 9-2-10-6, property owners who receive a condemnation and demolition order from the Building Inspector are generally expected to complete demolition within the timeframe specified in the notice, which will be no fewer than 30 days. Compliant operators ensure the structure is fully razed to ground level, subsurface areas are filled with solid material, and all accessory buildings on the property are removed at the same time. Owners who do not act within the ordered period risk the City proceeding with demolition through the Circuit Court of Henry County, with all costs—including attorney fees—becoming a lien against the property.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Colona § 9-2-10-6 establishes that once a dwelling or unit is condemned as unfit for human habitation, occupants should be aware that a formal demolition process may be initiated, with the owner bearing primary responsibility for carrying it out. Tenants living in a condemned or placarded property may have rights related to relocation or notice under other applicable local or state provisions, and tenant-rights organizations can help clarify what protections may apply. If you believe a property has been improperly condemned or that proper procedures under § 9-2-10-6 were not followed, consulting a tenant-rights organization or legal aid service can help you understand the options generally available to residents in this situation.
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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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