Sauk Village — Ch. 18 Art. XIX Registration of Defaulted Mortgage and Vacant Properties § 18-1140
Additional authority
Operative Text
(a) If the enforcement officer has reason to believe that a property subject to the provisions of this chapter is posing a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, the code enforcement officer may temporarily secure the property at the expense of the mortgagee or owner, and may bring the violations before the code, board of trustees or special magistrate as soon as possible to address the conditions OF the property. Nothing herein shall limit the village from abating any nuisance or unsafe condition by any other legal means available to it. ..... (b) The hearing officer shall have the authority to require the mortgagee or owner affected by this section, to implement additional maintenance and/or security measures including, but not limited to, securing any and all doors, windows or other openings, employment of an on-site security guard or other measures as may be reasonably required to help prevent further decline of the property. ..... (c) If there is a finding that the condition of the property is posing a serious threat to the public health, safety, and welfare, then the hearing officer may direct the village to abate the violations and charge the mortgagee or owner with the cost of the abatement. ..... (d) If the mortgagee or owner does not reimburse the village for the cost of temporarily securing the property, or of any abatement directed by the hearing officer within 30 days of the village sending the mortgagee or owner the invoice then the village may lien the property with such cost, along with an administrative fee as determined in the village's fee ordinance to recover the administrative personnel services. In addition to filing a lien the village may pursue financial penalties against the mortgagee or owner. ..... (e) The village may contract with an entity to implement this chapter, and, if so, any reference to the enforcement officer herein shall include the entity the village contract with for that purpose. .....
Sauk Village Code § 18-1140 grants the village broad emergency and ongoing authority over properties covered by the defaulted mortgage and vacant property registration chapter. When a property poses a serious threat to public health, safety, or welfare, the village's enforcement officer may temporarily secure it at the mortgagee's or owner's expense, and a hearing officer may order additional maintenance or security measures—such as boarding openings or hiring on-site security. If the responsible party does not reimburse the village within 30 days of receiving an invoice, the village may place a lien on the property, add an administrative fee, and pursue further financial penalties. The village may also contract out enforcement duties under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-1140, property owners and mortgagees of vacant or defaulted-mortgage properties in Sauk Village should be aware that the village holds significant emergency intervention powers. A compliant operator generally keeps registered vacant properties secured, maintained, and free of conditions that could be characterized as a public health or safety threat, thereby reducing the circumstances under which the enforcement officer would step in. Owners who receive an invoice for village-incurred securing or abatement costs should act promptly, as failure to reimburse within the 30-day window specified in § 18-1140(d) can result in a property lien, administrative fees, and additional financial penalties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 18-1140 is primarily directed at mortgagees and property owners, but it reflects protections that can benefit occupants and neighbors of vacant or distressed properties in Sauk Village. If a nearby or formerly occupied property appears to pose a serious threat to public health or safety, residents may report conditions to the village's code enforcement office, which has authority under § 18-1140 to secure the property and bring violations before a hearing officer. Tenant-rights organizations or local housing advocates can help individuals understand how this provision interacts with other village code protections and what complaint or reporting options may be available.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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