Cal. Civ. Code § 16-41-20-6
Public nuisances
Operative Text
Sec. 6. The state department, local board of health, or county health officer may declare a dwelling that is unfit for human habitation a public nuisance. The state department, local board of health, or county health officer may order to be removed, abated, suspended, altered, improved, or purified a dwelling, structure, excavation, business, pursuit, or thing in or about the dwelling or the dwelling's lot, or the plumbing, sewerage, drainage, light, or ventilation of the dwelling.
Under Ind. Code § 16-41-20-6, Indiana health authorities—including the state department of health, a local board of health, or a county health officer—have the power to formally declare a dwelling unfit for human habitation and label it a public nuisance. Once such a declaration is made, those same authorities can issue orders requiring that the dwelling, related structures, excavations, businesses, or physical systems such as plumbing, drainage, lighting, or ventilation be removed, repaired, improved, or otherwise corrected. The provision gives health officials broad discretion over what conditions on or around a property may trigger these orders.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers should be aware that under Ind. Code § 16-41-20-6, state and local health authorities hold significant power to inspect and act on conditions deemed unfit for human habitation. Operators who maintain dwellings in good repair—keeping plumbing, sewerage, drainage, lighting, and ventilation in functional condition—are generally better positioned to avoid a public nuisance declaration or an abatement order. When a health authority does issue an order under this section, compliant operators typically respond promptly, document corrective actions taken, and communicate with the issuing agency throughout the remediation process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 16-41-20-6 gives tenants a meaningful avenue when a dwelling's conditions may rise to the level of a public nuisance: state health departments, local boards of health, and county health officers all have authority to inspect, declare a nuisance, and order corrections to the dwelling or its systems. Tenants who believe their home has serious habitability problems—such as failed plumbing, inadequate drainage, or poor ventilation—may consider contacting their local board of health or county health officer to request an inspection under this provision. Tenant-rights organizations in Indiana can help explain how a public nuisance declaration or abatement order might interact with other housing remedies available under state law.
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 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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