Franklin Park — Title 8 Ch. 7 Vacant Properties § 8-7-5
Appeal of building official's determination of vacant building
Operative Text
(a) An owner of a building determined by the building official to be a vacant building may appeal that determination to the director. Such appeal shall be in writing and shall be filed with the director within fifteen (15) days of the date of mailing of the notice of determination. The filing of an appeal stays the owner's obligation to register the building as required by this chapter. The appeal shall contain a complete statement of the reasons the owner disputes the building official's determination, shall set forth specific facts in support thereof, and shall include all evidence the owner relies upon to support the appeal. The director shall decide the appeal on the basis of facts presented by the owner in the written appeal and the building official's written determination. (b) The burden is upon the owner to present sufficient evidence to persuade the director that had the evidence been known to the building official at the time the building official made the determination, the building official would more likely than not have determined that the subject building was not a vacant building. (c) The director shall send written notice of the decision to the owner within fifteen (15) days of receipt of the appeal. The director may, but is not required to, seek additional information from the owner. The director may, upon written notice thereof to the owner, take no more than thirty (30) additional days, to decide the appeal if it is determined that such additional time is required for consideration of the appeal. The decision of the director shall be final. (d) An owner who wishes to challenge the applicability of this chapter to their building without the building official's determination having been made, shall set forth specific facts to support nonapplicability in writing to the building official. In the event the building official determines that the subject building is a vacant building, the owner shall have the right to appeal the building official's determination as provided for herein.
Franklin Park Title 8 Ch. 7 Vacant Properties § 8-7-5 establishes a formal appeal process for property owners who disagree with a building official's determination that their building is vacant. An owner has 15 days from the mailing of the determination notice to file a written appeal with the director, and doing so pauses the registration requirement while the appeal is pending. The director must issue a written decision within 15 days of receiving the appeal, though an additional 30-day extension is permitted if needed, and the director's decision is final. Owners who want to proactively contest whether the chapter applies to their building at all may also submit written facts to the building official before any formal determination is made.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Franklin Park Title 8 Ch. 7 Vacant Properties § 8-7-5, a compliant property owner who receives a vacant-building determination acts promptly, since the appeal window is only 15 days from the date the notice is mailed. A well-prepared appeal includes a complete written statement of disputed facts, specific supporting evidence, and any documentation that would have changed the building official's conclusion. Operators who believe the chapter does not apply to their property at all generally submit a written statement of specific facts to the building official before any formal determination is issued, preserving their ability to appeal if the official still finds the building vacant.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Franklin Park Title 8 Ch. 7 Vacant Properties § 8-7-5 governs how a property owner may contest a vacant-building designation, which can affect the condition and oversight of a building where tenants live or have recently lived. If a building you occupy or recently vacated has been designated vacant, understanding this appeal process can help you follow whether the owner is complying with registration and oversight requirements under the chapter. Tenants with concerns about how a vacant-building determination affects their housing situation may find it useful to contact a local tenant-rights organization or the Franklin Park building department for information about the status of any pending appeal.
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.
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