Dangerous Buildings

1. A hearing is held to determine if the building or structure meets the criteria of a dangerous building (i.e. vacant in excess of 180 days, structurally unsound). The Hearing Officer shall render a decision either closing the proceedings or ordering the building or structure demolished, otherwise made safe or properly maintained.
   
2. If the Hearing Officer determines that the building of structure should be demolished otherwise made safe or properly maintained the Hearing Officer shall so order, fixing a time in the order for compliance.
   
3. If the owner, agent or lessee fails to appear or neglects or refuses to comply with the order issued, the Hearing Officer shall file the report of the findings and a copy of the order with the Housing Board of Appeals.
   
4. The Housing Board of Appeals shall fix a date not less than thirty days after the hearing before the Hearing Officer, and shall give notice to the owner, agent or lessee of the time and place of the hearing. At the hearing, the owner before the Housing Board of Appeals, agent or lessee shall be given the opportunity to show case why the order should not be enforced.
   
5. The Housing Board of Appeals shall either approve, disapprove or modify the order of the Hearing Officer.
   
6. If the Housing Board of Appeals affirms (approves) the order of the Hearing Officer, a hearing may be set before the City Commission not less than sixty days after the date of the hearing before the Housing Board of Appeals.
   
7. At the hearing before the City Commission, a determination will be made as to whether to permit the City, without the necessity of bringing court action, to enforce the order of the Hearing Officer, as approved or modified by the Housing Board of Appeals, to demolish, otherwise make safe, or properly maintain, the dangerous building or structure.
   
8. The owner shall reimburse the cost of the demolition or of making the building safe, incurred by the City to bring the property into conformance, to the City or party in interest in whose name the property appears.

Code Compliance
10 N Division St, Battle Creek, MI 49014
Phone: (269) 966-3387