Division 19.2. Sanitation Code Violations  



 
    (65 ILCS 5/Art. 11 Div. 19.2 heading)
DIVISION 19.2. SANITATION CODE VIOLATIONS

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-1) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-1)
    Sec. 11-19.2-1. Definitions. As used in this Division, unless the context requires otherwise:
    (a) "Code" means any municipal ordinance that pertains to or regulates: sanitation practices; forestry practices; the attachment of bills or notices to public property; the definition, identification and abatement of public nuisances; and the accumulation, disposal and transportation of garbage, refuse and other forms of solid waste in a municipality.
    (b) "Sanitation inspector" means a municipal employee authorized to issue citations for code violations and to conduct inspections of public or private real property in a municipality to determine if code violations exist.
    (c) "Property owner" means the legal or beneficial owner of an improved or unimproved parcel of real estate.
    (d) "Hearing officer" means a person other than a sanitation inspector or law enforcement officer having the following powers and duties:
        (1) to preside at an administrative hearing called to

    
determine whether or not a code violation exists;
        (2) to hear testimony and accept evidence from the
    
sanitation inspector, the respondent and all interested parties relevant to the existence of a code violation;
        (3) to preserve and authenticate the record of the
    
hearing and all exhibits and evidence introduced at the hearing;
        (4) to issue and sign a written finding, decision and
    
order stating whether a code violation exists; and
        (5) to impose penalties consistent with applicable
    
code provisions and to assess costs reasonably related to instituting the proceeding upon finding the respondent liable for the charged violation, provided, however, that in no event shall the hearing officer have the authority to impose a penalty of incarceration.
    (e) "Respondent" means a property owner, waste hauler or other person charged with liability for an alleged code violation and the person to whom the notice of violation is directed.
    (f) "Solid waste" means demolition materials, food and industrial processing wastes, garden trash, land cleaning wastes, mixed refuse, non-combustible refuse, rubbish, and trash as those terms are defined in the Solid Waste Disposal District Act.
    (g) "Waste hauler" means any person owning or controlling any vehicle used to carry or transport garbage, refuse or other forms of solid waste.
(Source: P.A. 90-655, eff. 7-30-98.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-2) (from Ch. 24, par. 11.19.2-2)
    Sec. 11-19.2-2. Code hearing unit. The corporate authorities of any municipality having a population of 100,000 or more inhabitants may establish by ordinance a code hearing unit within an existing code enforcement agency or as a separate and independent agency in the municipal government. The function of the code hearing unit is to expedite the prosecution and correction of code violations in the manner set forth in this Division.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-3) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-3)
    Sec. 11-19.2-3. Hearing procedures not exclusive. In any municipality where this Division is adopted, this Division shall not preclude the municipality from using other methods to enforce the provisions of its Code.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-4) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-4)
    Sec. 11-19.2-4. Instituting code hearing proceedings. When a sanitation inspector observes or otherwise discovers a code violation, he shall note the violation on a violation notice and report form, indicating the name and address of the respondent, if known, the name, address and State vehicle registration number of the waste hauler who deposited the waste, if applicable, a citation to the specific code provision or provisions alleged to have been violated, a description of the circumstances present that constitute the alleged violation, the date and time the violation was observed, the names of witnesses to the violation, and the address of the location or property where the violation is observed.
    The violation notice and report form shall contain a file number and a hearing date noted by the sanitation inspector in the blank spaces provided for that purpose on the form. The violation notice and report form shall state that failure to appear at the hearing on the date indicated may result in a determination of liability for the cited violation and the imposition of fines and assessment of costs as provided by the applicable municipal ordinance. The violation notice and report form shall also state that upon a determination of liability and the exhaustion or failure to exhaust procedures for judicial review, any unpaid fines or costs imposed will constitute a debt due and owing the municipality.
    A copy of the violation notice and report form shall be served upon the respondent either personally or by first class mail, postage prepaid, and sent to the address of the respondent. If the municipality has an ordinance requiring all or certain property owners to register with the municipality, service may be made on the respondent property owner by mailing the violation notice and report to the owner's address registered with the municipality. If the name of the respondent property owner cannot be ascertained or if service on such respondent cannot be made by mail, service may be made on the respondent property owner by posting a copy of the violation notice and report form in a prominent place upon the property where the violation is found, not less than 10 days before the hearing is scheduled.
(Source: P.A. 97-1088, eff. 8-24-12.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-5) (was 65 ILCS 5/19.2-5)
    Sec. 11-19.2-5. Subpoenas - Defaults. At any time prior to the hearing date the hearing officer assigned to hear the case may, at the request of the sanitation inspector or the attorney for the municipality, or the respondent or his attorney, issue subpoenas directing witnesses to appear and give testimony at the hearing. If on the date set for hearing the respondent or his attorney fails to appear, the hearing officer may find the respondent in default and shall proceed with the hearing and accept evidence relating to the existence of a code violation.
(Source: P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-42-16)
    Sec. 11-42-16. Household goods recycling bins.
    (a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any municipality may by ordinance require that all household goods recycling bins have a permanent, written, printed label affixed to the bin that is prominently displayed and includes the following: (1) the name, address, and contact information of the person or entity owning, operating, or maintaining that bin; and (2) whether the person or entity owning, operating, or maintaining the bin is a not for profit entity or a for profit entity.
    (b) As used in this Section:
    "Household goods recycling bin" or "bin" means a container or receptacle held out to the public as a place for people to discard clothes, shoes, books, and other recyclable items until they are taken away for resale, re-use, recycling, or redistribution by the person or entity that owns, operates, or maintains the bin.
    "Not for profit entity" means any entity that is officially recognized by the United States Internal Revenue Service as a tax-exempt entity described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or any successor provision of federal tax law).
(Source: P.A. 98-1116, eff. 1-1-15.)

    (65 ILCS 5/19.2-5) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-5)
    Sec. 19.2-5. (Renumbered).
(Source: Renumbered by P.A. 95-331, eff. 8-21-07.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-6)
    Sec. 11-19.2-6. Representation at code hearings. The case for the municipality may be presented by the sanitation inspector, by any other municipal employee or by an attorney designated by the municipality. However, in no event shall the case for the municipality be presented by an employee of the code hearing unit. The case for the respondent may be presented by the respondent, his attorney, or any other agent or representative.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-7)
    Sec. 11-19.2-7. Hearing - Evidence. The hearing officer shall preside at the hearing, shall hear testimony and accept any evidence relevant to the existence or non-existence of a code violation upon the property indicated. The sanitation inspector's signed violation notice and report form shall be prima facie evidence of the existence of the code violation described therein. The strict rules of evidence applicable to judicial proceedings shall not apply to hearings authorized under this Division.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-8) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-8)
    Sec. 11-19.2-8. Findings, Decision, and Order. At the conclusion of the hearing the hearing officer shall make a determination on the basis of the evidence presented at the hearing whether or not a code violation exists. The determination shall be in writing and shall be designated as the findings, decision and order. The findings, decision and order shall include the hearing officer's findings of fact, a decision whether or not a code violation exists based upon the findings of fact, and an order, imposing a fine or other penalty, directing the respondent to correct the violation, or dismissing the case in the event the violation is not proved. If the hearing officer determines that the respondent is liable for the cited violation, the hearing officer shall enter an order imposing sanctions that are provided in the code for the violations proved, including the imposition of fines and recovery of the costs of the proceedings, which costs shall be enforced in like manner as the enforcement of fines and penalties. A copy of the findings, decision and order shall be served by personal service or by any method provided for service of the violation notice and report form pursuant to Section 11-19.2-4. Payment of any penalty, fine or costs of the proceedings and the disposition of such money shall be in the same manner as set forth in this Code, unless the corporate authorities establishing a code hearing unit by ordinance provide otherwise.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-9) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-9)
    Sec. 11-19.2-9. Administrative review. The findings, decision and order of the hearing officer shall be subject to review in the circuit court of the county where the municipality is located, and the provisions of the Administrative Review Law, and all amendments and modifications thereto, and the rules adopted pursuant thereto are adopted and shall apply to and govern every action for the judicial review of the final findings, decision and order of a hearing officer under this Division.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-10) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-10)
    Sec. 11-19.2-10. Sanctions appropriate to owner - property. The order to correct a code violation and the sanctions imposed by a municipality against a respondent property owner as the result of a finding of a code violation under this Division shall attach to the property as well as the owner of the property, so that the finding of a code violation against one owner cannot be avoided by conveying or transferring the property to another owner. Any subsequent transferee or owner of property takes subject to the findings, decision and order of a hearing officer under this Division if a notice consisting of a copy of the order to correct a code violation and imposing any sanctions and costs, if applicable, and a description of the real estate affected sufficient for the identification thereof, has been filed in the office of the Recorder or the office of the Registrar of Titles in the county in which such real estate is located by the municipality prior to the transfer or conveyance to the subsequent transferee or owner.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-11) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-11)
    Sec. 11-19.2-11. (a) A person who contracts with the federal government or any of its agencies, including without limitation the Department of Housing and Urban Development, to care for vacant residential real estate shall be responsible for maintaining the property to prevent and correct municipal health and sanitation code violations.
    (b) A person who violates this Section shall be subject to the findings, decision and order of the hearing officer as provided in this Division.
    (c) A person who intentionally violates this Section is guilty of a business offense and shall be fined not less than $501 and not more than $1,000.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-12) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-12)
    Sec. 11-19.2-12. (a) Any fine, other sanction or costs imposed, or part of any fine, other sanction or costs imposed remaining unpaid after the exhaustion of, or the failure to exhaust, judicial review procedures under the Administrative Review Law shall be a debt due and owing the municipality and, as such, may be collected in accordance with applicable law. Any subsequent owner or transferee of property takes subject to this debt if a notice has been filed pursuant to Section 11-19.2-10.
    (b) After expiration of the period within which judicial review under the Administrative Review Law may be sought for a final determination of the code violation, the municipality may commence a proceeding in the circuit court of the county where the municipality is located for purposes of obtaining a judgment on the findings, decision and order. Nothing in this Section shall prevent a municipality from consolidating multiple findings, decisions and orders against a person in such a proceeding. Upon commencement of the action, the municipality shall file a certified copy of the findings, decision and order, which shall be accompanied by a certification that recites facts sufficient to show that the findings, decision and order was issued in accordance with this Division and the applicable municipal ordinance. Service of the summons and a copy of the petition may be by any method provided by Section 2-203 of the Code of Civil Procedure or by certified mail, return receipt requested, provided that the total amount of fines, other sanctions and costs imposed by the findings, decision and order does not exceed $5,000. If the court is satisfied that the findings, decision and order was entered in accordance with the requirements of this Division and the applicable municipal ordinance, and that the respondent had an opportunity for a hearing under this Division and for judicial review as provided in this Division:
        (1) the court shall render judgment in favor of the

    
municipality and against the respondent for the amount indicated in the findings, decision and order, plus court costs. Such judgment shall have the same effect and may be enforced in the same manner as other judgments for the recovery of money; and
        (2) the court may also issue such other orders or
    
injunctions or both requested by the municipality to enforce the order of the hearing officer to correct a code violation.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)

    (65 ILCS 5/11-19.2-13) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-19.2-13)
    Sec. 11-19.2-13. Adoption of Division by municipality. Any municipality establishing a code hearing unit by ordinance under this Division may adopt such other provisions as are necessary and proper to carry into effect the powers granted and the purposes stated herein.
(Source: P.A. 86-1364.)