Chicago Heights — Ch. 22 Housing, Dangerous Buildings and Structures § 22-53
Rehabilitation after acquisition
Operative Text
(a) Rehabilitation plan. Within thirty (30) days after the acquisition of legal title, the director of commercial and housing code enforcement shall develop a plan for the rehabilitation of the dwelling so that such dwelling shall be in compliance with all requirements of applicable sections of this Code. Such plan shall itemize all required improvements as of the date of the plan and the estimated costs therefor. (b) Rehabilitation by responsible bidder or 501(c)(3) organization. Upon completion of the plan for rehabilitation, the property may: (1) Be sold to any responsible bidder who gives adequate security in accordance with the requirements of section 22-54 hereof who can adequately demonstrate the ability to complete the required rehabilitation within six (6) months from the date of acquisition; or (2) Be rehabilitated under the direction of the city director of commercial and housing code enforcement by a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization which can adequately demonstrate the ability to complete the required rehabilitation within six (6) months from commencement of construction.
Under Chicago Heights Ch. 22, § 22-53, when the city acquires legal title to a dwelling, the director of commercial and housing code enforcement must produce a rehabilitation plan within 30 days. That plan must list every required improvement and its estimated cost as of the plan's date. Once the plan is complete, the property can either be sold to a qualified bidder who provides adequate security and can finish rehabilitation within six months of acquisition, or it can be rehabilitated directly by a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that can demonstrate the ability to complete the work within six months of construction starting.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating near city-acquired properties in Chicago Heights should be aware that § 22-53 creates a structured pathway for rehabilitating distressed dwellings after municipal acquisition. A compliant operator interested in purchasing such a property through the responsible-bidder process generally demonstrates financial capacity, provides adequate security as outlined in § 22-54, and commits to completing all code-required improvements within the six-month window. Staying current with the itemized rehabilitation plan issued by the director of commercial and housing code enforcement helps ensure that any bid or rehabilitation effort aligns with the city's documented requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants, § 22-53 establishes that when Chicago Heights acquires a dwelling, a formal rehabilitation plan must be created within 30 days, providing a documented record of what improvements are required and their estimated costs. This plan can serve as a reference point for understanding what code-compliance work is expected on a property. Tenants who believe rehabilitation obligations under this provision are not being met may consider contacting the city's commercial and housing code enforcement office, reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization, or reviewing the plan's itemized requirements to understand the scope of work that should be completed.
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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