Chicago Heights — Ch. 22 Housing, Dangerous Buildings and Structures § 22-12
Permits and licenses prohibited until cost of correction paid
Operative Text
If work has been done and expense incurred by the city in connection with the repair or demolition of any dangerous, unsafe building or structure as provided herein, a bill for such expense shall be rendered by the city to the owner, lessee, or lienholder. The city may refuse to issue a permit for the reconstruction, alteration or repair of any such building or structure or portion thereof or other licenses or permits for occupancy until the expenditures incurred by the city on account of such repairs or demolition have been repaid.
Under Chicago Heights Ch. 22 § 22-12, when the city steps in to repair or demolish a dangerous or unsafe building and incurs costs doing so, it sends a bill for those expenses to the property owner, lessee, or lienholder. Until that bill is repaid, the city is authorized to withhold building permits—such as those for reconstruction, alteration, or repair—as well as occupancy licenses or other permits related to the property. This provision essentially makes repayment of city-incurred remediation costs a prerequisite for resuming normal permitting activity on the affected structure.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chicago Heights should be aware that under Ch. 22 § 22-12, any costs the city incurs by intervening to repair or demolish a dangerous structure on their property become a recoverable debt billed directly to them. Compliant operators generally keep structures maintained to avoid triggering city intervention in the first place, and promptly address any outstanding city-issued bills to avoid a permitting hold. A permitting freeze can effectively halt reconstruction, renovation, or re-occupancy efforts until the full amount owed to the city is repaid.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Tenants and prospective occupants should know that Ch. 22 § 22-12 can affect whether a building legally receives the permits or occupancy licenses needed for habitation, if the owner has an unpaid debt to the city from prior repair or demolition work. If a building appears to lack required permits or an occupancy license, tenants may consider contacting the Chicago Heights building or housing department to inquire about the property's permit status. Tenant-rights organizations can help explain what options may be available when a rental property is subject to a permitting hold under this provision.
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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