Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.190

Section 109 Amended; Emergency Measures

In Force
Verified 10/15/2026 · Next check 11/14/2026
LincolnHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Lincoln, Neb., Mun. Code ch. 21.05 § 21.05.190
Section 109 of the International Property Maintenance Code is amended to read as follows:

SECTION 109 - EMERGENCY MEASURES

109.1 Imminent danger. When, in the opinion of the code official, there is imminent danger of failure or collapse of a building or structure which endangers life, or when any structure or part of a structure has fallen and life is endangered by the occupation of the structure, or when there is actual or potential danger to the building occupants or those in the proximity of any structure because of explosives, explosive fumes or vapors or the presence of hazardous fumes, gases or materials, or operation of defective or dangerous equipment, the code official is hereby authorized and empowered to order and require the occupants to vacate the premises forthwith. The code official shall cause to be posted at each entrance to such structure a notice reading as follows: “This Structure Is Unsafe and Its Occupancy Has Been Prohibited by the Code Official.” It shall be unlawful for any person to enter such structure except for the purpose of securing the structure, making the required repairs, removing the hazardous condition or of demolishing the same. The code official may request assistance from such other agencies of the City as may be reasonably necessary to empty the premises or building.

109.2 Temporary safeguards. Notwithstanding other provisions of this code, whenever, in the opinion of the code official, there is imminent danger due to an unsafe condition, the code official shall order the necessary work to be done, including the boarding up of openings, to render such structure temporarily safe whether or not the legal procedure herein described has been instituted; and shall cause such other action to be taken as the code official deems necessary to meet such emergency.

109.3 Closing streets. When necessary for public safety, the code official shall temporarily close structures and close, or order the authority having jurisdiction to close, sidewalks, streets, public ways and places adjacent to unsafe structures, and prohibit the same from being utilized.

109.4 Emergency repairs. For the purposes of this section, the code official shall employ the necessary labor and materials to perform the required work as expeditiously as possible. The cost of such repairs are chargeable to the property and shall be a lien upon such real estate.

109.5 Costs of emergency repairs. Costs incurred in the performance of emergency work shall be paid by the City. The city attorney shall institute appropriate action against the owner of the premises for the recovery of such costs. Such costs may also be assessed as a lien against the property as allowed in Section 110.5 or as allowed by law.

109.6 Hearing. Any person ordered to take emergency measures shall comply with such order forthwith. Any affected person shall thereafter, upon petition directed to the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board, be afforded a hearing as described in this code. (Ord. 19349 §19; March 1, 2009).
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Lincoln Municipal Code § 21.05.190 (Section 109) establishes the authority of the local code official to act swiftly when a building or structure poses an imminent threat to life or safety. Under this provision, the code official may order immediate evacuation, post notices prohibiting occupancy, arrange temporary safeguards such as boarding up openings, close adjacent streets or sidewalks, and carry out emergency repairs without waiting for standard legal proceedings to conclude. Any costs the City incurs for emergency repairs may be billed back to the property owner and can be recorded as a lien against the property. Affected parties retain the right to petition the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board for a hearing after complying with the emergency order.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on October 5, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners subject to an emergency order under Lincoln Mun. Code § 21.05.190 are generally expected to comply immediately, as the provision explicitly requires forthwith compliance before any appeal is heard. Operators who maintain buildings in safe, code-compliant condition reduce the circumstances under which the code official would invoke these emergency powers. If the City performs emergency repairs on a property, the costs can be charged directly to the owner and may be placed as a lien on the real estate under § 21.05.190(109.4–109.5), so owners typically address hazardous conditions proactively to avoid that financial exposure. After complying with any emergency order, an owner may petition the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board for a hearing to contest the action.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Under Lincoln Mun. Code § 21.05.190, occupants of a structure deemed imminently dangerous by the code official may be ordered to vacate immediately, and a posted notice will indicate that occupancy has been prohibited. Tenants who receive or are affected by such an order have the right to petition the Housing Advisory and Appeals Board for a hearing after the emergency measures have been complied with. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services familiar with Lincoln housing regulations can help affected occupants understand what options may be available regarding displacement, relocation, or challenging the underlying conditions that led to the emergency declaration.

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 5, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

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