Cal. Civ. Code § 36-7-9-13.5
Unpaid costs for unsafe premises repairs or emergency actions taken; collection
Operative Text
Sec. 13.5. (a) This section does not apply to the collection of an amount if a court determines under section 13 of this chapter that the enforcement authority is not entitled to the amount. (b) If: (1) all or any part of the costs listed in section 12 of this chapter remain unpaid for any unsafe premises (other than unsafe premises owned by a governmental entity) for more than fifteen (15) days after completion of the work; or (2) emergency action was taken under section 9 of this chapter, for more than fifteen (15) days after the costs of the emergency action have been affirmed by the hearing authority; the enforcement authority may send notice under section 25 of this chapter to each person who held a known or recorded fee interest, life estate interest, or equitable interest of a contract purchaser in the unsafe premises. If the notice is sent, the enforcement authority shall also send notice to any mortgagee with a known or recorded substantial property interest. The notice must require full payment of the amount owed within thirty (30) days. (c) If full payment of the amount owed is not made less than thirty (30) days after the notice is delivered, the enforcement officer may certify the following information to the county auditor: (1) The name of each person who held a known or recorded fee interest, life estate interest, or equitable interest of a contract purchaser in the unsafe premises. (2) The description of the unsafe premises, as shown by the records of the county auditor. (3) The amount of the delinquent payment, including all costs described in section 12 of this chapter. (d) The county auditor shall place the total amount certified under subsection (c) on the tax duplicate for the affected property as a special assessment. The total amount, including accrued interest, shall be collected as delinquent taxes are collected. (e) An amount collected under subsection (d), after all other taxes have been collected and disbursed, shall be disbursed to the unsafe building fund. (f) A judgment entered under section 13, 19, 21, or 22 of this chapter may be certified to the auditor and collected under this section. However, a judgment lien need not be obtained under section 13 of this chapter before a debt is certified under this section.
Indiana Code § 36-7-9-13.5 establishes a process by which local enforcement authorities can recover unpaid costs associated with repairing unsafe premises or taking emergency action. If those costs remain unpaid for more than 15 days after the work is completed (or after emergency-action costs are affirmed), the enforcement authority may notify property interest holders and demand full payment within 30 days. If payment is still not made, the unpaid amount can be certified to the county auditor, placed on the property's tax duplicate as a special assessment, and collected in the same manner as delinquent taxes — with collected funds ultimately going to the unsafe building fund.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Ind. Code § 36-7-9-13.5, property owners and others holding a fee interest, life estate, or equitable contract-purchaser interest in unsafe premises are the parties to whom the enforcement authority directs its payment notices. Compliant operators generally respond promptly to any notice of unpaid repair or emergency-action costs, since failure to pay within the 30-day window after notice can result in the debt being certified to the county auditor and levied as a special assessment against the property — functioning much like a tax lien. Mortgagees with a known or recorded substantial property interest are also entitled to receive notice under this section, so lenders and title holders should be aware that such assessments can attach to a property's tax record.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Ind. Code § 36-7-9-13.5 primarily governs how enforcement authorities collect unpaid costs from property owners after unsafe-premises repairs or emergency actions — it is not a provision that directly creates tenant rights, but it does reflect the broader unsafe-building enforcement framework that tenants may invoke. Tenants living in premises that have been subject to enforcement action can look to this section as part of the statutory scheme that compels owners to address unsafe conditions, and may find it relevant when researching whether a landlord has outstanding special assessments tied to code violations. Tenants seeking to understand how this provision fits into a broader housing complaint or enforcement situation may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office familiar with Indiana's unsafe-building statutes.
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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