The following is a news release from the City's Dept of Buildings.

Vacant Property Ordinance Passed
Stricter Requirements for Owners of Vacant Properties

The Chicago City Council today approved an ordinance that strengthens the maintenance requirements of vacant properties and increases the responsibilities of owners.  

"This ordinance will help improve the quality of life in neighborhoods by holding vacant property owners responsible for their properties," said Mayor Richard M. Daley. "Vacant properties pose public safety problems and can be havens for crime. Neighborhoods should not suffer the blight of these buildings because of irresponsible property owners."

The new ordinance only allows the use of plywood to cover doors and windows for the first six months that a property is vacant. Vacant properties with all windows and doors in place do not need the extra protection of plywood.

Properties that have been broken into or damaged during the first six months that are vacant will be required to be secured with steel panels, or have all windows and doors installed and a working theft-prevention system with an active account with a third-party security company.

Also, all property vacant for at least six months will be required to have lighting at entrances and exits from dusk until dawn.

To enforce the ordinance, Buildings inspectors will also be allowed to complete an interior and exterior inspection of vacant properties every six months. 

"If homes are abandoned and left unsecured, the building is at risk of damage from the elements or by vandals, thereby leading to deteriorating conditions," said Richard Monocchio, Acting Commissioner of the Department of Buildings. "This ordinance will require owners to maintain homes so that viable housing stock is not allowed to deteriorate and the value of adjacent properties is not adversely impacted."

City officials believe that a consequence of the heightened standards is that owners of such buildings will work to improve them and have them occupied. 

Under the amended ordinance, fees to register with the Department of Buildings will rise from $100 per year to $250 for the first six months and can escalate by $250 for each six-month period thereafter. Buildings owners can avoid the increased fee by keeping their properties in compliance with the building code.

Officials estimate that the city spends between $5,000 to $14,000 a year to monitor and maintain vacant buildings.

To view the online release, please click here.

About Safeguard
Safeguard Properties is the largest privately held field services company in the country. Located in Cleveland, Ohio and founded in 1990 by Robert Klein, Safeguard has grown from a regional preservation company with a few employees and a handful of contractors performing services in the Midwest, to a national company with over 500 employees. Safeguard is supported by a nationwide network of subcontractors able to perform any requested superintendence, preservation, and maintenance functions, as well as numerous ancillary services in the U.S., the Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.