Chicago Heights — Ch. 22 Housing, Dangerous Buildings and Structures § 22-5

Building or structure: The term "building or structure" shall include anything constructed or erected, the use of which requires permanent or temporary location on or in the ground, including, but not limited to, buildings of all types and use groups, advertising signs, billboards, swimming pools, sheds, garages, fences, or any other manmade structure. The term "building or structure" also shall include equipment such as any boiler, heating equipment, elevator, moving stairway, electrical wiring or device and uncompleted buildings or structures.
Dangerous, unsafe building or structure: (a)
Any building or structure which is dangerous and unsafe to the life, public health or safety of the public or of the building's or structure's occupants because of its construction or condition, or which may cause or aid in the spread of disease or which may become a harborage for rodents, insects or other animals, or which may cause injury to a neighboring building or structure or its occupants; or
(b) Any building or structure which, because of faulty construction, age, lack of proper repair or any other cause, constitutes or creates a fire hazard; or
(c) Any building or structure which, by reason of faulty construction, unstable foundation, age or lack of repair, decay or dilapidation, is likely to collapse or fall, in whole or in part; or
(d) Any building or structure which has been damaged by fire, wind or other causes so as to have become dangerous to life, safety, morals, or the general health and welfare of the occupants or the people of this city; or
(e) Any building or structure which has become or is so dilapidated, decayed, unsafe, unsanitary, vermin, insect, rat or other animal infested, or which so utterly fails to provide the amenities essential to decent living that it is unfit for human habitation, or is likely to cause sickness or disease so as to work injury to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of those living therein; or
(f) Any building or structure which has parts thereof which are so attached that they may fall and injure members of the public or property; or
(g) Any building or structure which because of its condition is unsafe, unsanitary or dangerous to the health, morals safety or general welfare of the people of this city; or
(h) Any building or structure which is unfit for habitation as imminently dangerous to the health, morals, safety or general welfare of the occupants or the public by reason of defective sanitary conditions; or
(i) Any building or structure existing in violation of any provision of this code or any provision of the fire prevention code, the existing structures code, or other ordinances of this city; or
(j) Any abandoned building or structure. An "abandoned building or structure" is:
(1) Any vacant building or structure which is frequented by persons who are not lawful occupants of such structure; or
(2) Any vacant building or structure which, by reason of lack of maintenance or by reason of the boarding up of its doors and windows, or other reasons, has a substantial adverse effect on the value of the property in the immediate neighborhood; or
(3) A building or structure, the principal use of which has been abandoned, and that no longer has any function or use; or
(4) Any railroad trestle or siding no longer in use.
Any dangerous or unsafe building or structure, as defined by this section, within the city, is hereby declared to be a nuisance.