10 Del. C. ch. 71 (partial) § 7119
Premises involving multiple residences or businesses
Operative Text
(a) Where the premises constituting the criminal nuisance includes multiple residences, dwellings or business establishments, a temporary or permanent closing order issued pursuant to any provision of this chapter shall, so far as is practicable, be limited to that portion of the entire premises necessary to abate the criminal nuisance and prevent its recurrence. (b) In addition to any other relief expressly authorized by this chapter, the Court may order a defendant who actually knew or, based on information provided to said defendant, had reason to know of, the criminal nuisance, to provide relocation assistance to any tenant ordered to vacate a premises pursuant to this chapter, provided that the Court determines that such tenant was not involved in the criminal nuisance or any criminal nuisance constituting the criminal nuisance and did not knowingly aid in the commission of any such criminal nuisance. Relocation assistance shall be in the amount necessary to cover moving costs, security deposits for utilities and comparable housing, any lost rent, and any other reasonable expenses the Court may deem fair and reasonable as a result of the Court’s order to close a premises or any portion thereof pursuant to this chapter.
Under 10 Del. C. ch. 71 § 7119, when a court issues a closing order against a property found to constitute a criminal nuisance, that order must be narrowly tailored to only the portion of the property necessary to stop the nuisance — not automatically applied to the entire building or complex. Additionally, a court may require a defendant who knew or had reason to know about the criminal nuisance to pay relocation assistance to any innocent tenant displaced by the closing order. That assistance can cover moving costs, security deposits for replacement housing and utilities, lost rent, and other expenses the court finds reasonable.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to proceedings under 10 Del. C. ch. 71 § 7119 should be aware that courts are directed to limit closing orders to the specific portion of a multi-unit or mixed-use property where the nuisance exists, rather than shutting down an entire building. However, operators who knew or had reason to know about a criminal nuisance on their property may be ordered to fund relocation assistance for innocent displaced tenants, including moving costs, security deposits, and lost rent. Compliant operators generally maintain documented awareness of and prompt responses to nuisance activity, which can be relevant to what a court determines the defendant knew or had reason to know.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants living in a multi-unit building subject to a criminal nuisance action under 10 Del. C. ch. 71 § 7119 have a statutory protection ensuring that any closing order is limited, as far as practicable, to the portion of the property actually involved in the nuisance. If a court does order an innocent tenant to vacate, § 7119(b) provides a mechanism for that tenant to receive relocation assistance — covering moving costs, security deposits, lost rent, and other reasonable expenses — from a defendant who knew or should have known about the nuisance. Tenants who believe they qualify as uninvolved parties may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand how this provision might apply to their circumstances.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 22, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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