Vacant Building Registration Ordinance

Park Forest’s Vacant Building Registration Ordinance was adopted in 2009 after a rise in the number of vacant buildings in the aftermath of the foreclosure crisis began to threaten the quality of life and safety of residents. The ordinance, which sought to build closer relationships between property owners and the Village, was met with wide public support and has since increased owner accountability and allowed the Village to streamline the process of monitoring vacant buildings. Two housing inspectors, one code enforcement officer, and the Village’s Director of Community Development oversees the program and are responsible for its implementation.

Buildings must register with the Village within 60 days of becoming vacant; those that are for sale or rent are not required to register. The property owner or responsible party is required to submit an annual $200 registration fee, a vacant building plan, and proof that they hold liability insurance ranging from $500,000 to $2 million in coverage, depending on the number of units in the building.

The requirement of a building plan has proved an effective tool in encouraging owners of vacant buildings to claim responsibility for the maintenance of their property and can also be used as supporting documentation should the Village need to bring a property owner to court. Building plans include short and long-term objectives that detail how the property owner plans to maintain and secure the property and how they plan to bring the property back into good use. Buildings cannot remain vacant for more than two years without an approved plan for occupancy, sale, demolition or other disposition. After a two-year period, the Village will take legal action against property owners who fail to comply with the registration program and do not maintain their property according to code; though it should be noted that the village can take legal action at any time if deemed appropriate.

Vacant building owners are subject to fines ranging from $100 per day per violation to $750 per day per violation if they fail to register their buildings, fail to file or comply with vacant building plans, or fail to bring their property into compliance with Village codes. Real estate transfer stamps have proven to be an effective mechanism for collecting fines or fees owed; buildings that have outstanding fees or fines are not eligible for real estate transfer stamps. The Village has trained its code enforcement team to file liens on buildings without the aid of attorneys, making it a more cost-effective process to collect outstanding money owed.