66.0413(1)(b)1.1. Except as provided in sub. (5), if a building is old, dilapidated, or out of repair and consequently dangerous, unsafe, unsanitary, or otherwise unfit for human habitation and unreasonable to repair, order the owner of the building to raze the building or, if the building can be made safe by reasonable repairs, order the owner to either make the building safe and sanitary or to raze the building, at the owner’s option.

66.0413(1)(b)2.2. If there has been a cessation of normal construction of a building for a period of more than 2 years, order the owner of the building to raze the building.

66.0413(1)(br)1.1. If a building subject to an order under par. (b) is unsanitary and unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use and is not in danger of structural collapse, the building inspector or other designated officer shall post a placard on the premises containing the following notice: “This Building May Not Be Used For Human Habitation, Occupancy or Use.” The building inspector or other designated officer shall prohibit use of the building for human habitation, occupancy or use until necessary repairs have been made.

66.0413(1)(br)2.2. Any person who rents, leases or occupies a building which has been condemned for human habitation, occupancy or use under subd. 1. shall be fined not less than $5 nor more than $50 or imprisoned not more than 30 days for each week of the violation, or both.

66.0413(1)(c)(c) Reasonableness of repair; presumption. Except as provided in subs. (3) and (5), if a municipal governing body, building inspector, or designated officer determines that the cost of repairs of a building described in par. (b) 1. would exceed 50 percent of the assessed value of the building divided by the ratio of the assessed value to the recommended value as last published by the department of revenue for the municipality within which the building is located, the repairs are presumed unreasonable for purposes of par. (b) 1.

66.0413(1)(d)(d) Service of order. An order under par. (b) shall be served on the owner of record of the building that is subject to the order or on the owner’s agent if the agent is in charge of the building in the same manner as a summons is served in circuit court. An order under par. (b) shall be served on the holder of an encumbrance of record by 1st class mail at the holder’s last-known address and by publication as a class 1 notice under ch. 985. If the owner and the owner’s agent cannot be found or if the owner is deceased and an estate has not been opened, the order may be served by posting it on the main entrance of the building and by publishing it as a class 1 notice under ch. 985 before the time limited in the order begins to run. The time limited in the order begins to run from the date of service on the owner or owner’s agent or, if the owner and agent cannot be found, from the date that the order was posted on the building.

66.0413(1)(e)(e) Effect of recording order. If a raze order issued under par. (b) is recorded with the register of deeds in the county in which the building is located, the order is considered to have been served, as of the date the raze order is recorded, on any person claiming an interest in the building or the real estate as a result of a conveyance from the owner of record unless the conveyance was recorded before the recording of the raze order.

66.0413(1)(f)(f) Failure to comply with order; razing building. An order under par. (b) shall specify the time within which the owner of the building is required to comply with the order and shall specify repairs, if any. If the owner fails or refuses to comply within the time prescribed, the building inspector or other designated officer may proceed to raze the building through any available public agency or by contract or arrangement with private persons, or to secure the building and, if necessary, the property on which the building is located if unfit for human habitation, occupancy or use. The cost of razing or securing the building may be charged in full or in part against the real estate upon which the building is located, and if that cost is so charged it is a lien upon the real estate and may be assessed and collected as a special charge, but may not be assessed and collected as a special tax. Any portion of the cost charged against the real estate that is not reimbursed under s. 632.103 (2) from funds withheld from an insurance settlement may be assessed and collected as a special tax.

66.0413(1)(g)(g) Court order to comply. A municipality, building inspector or designated officer may commence and prosecute an action in circuit court for an order of the court requiring the owner to comply with an order to raze a building issued under this subsection if the owner fails or refuses to do so within the time prescribed in the order, or for an order of the court requiring any person occupying a building whose occupancy has been prohibited under this subsection to vacate the premises, or any combination of the court orders. A hearing on actions under this paragraph shall be given preference. Court costs are in the discretion of the court.

66.0413(1)(h)(h) Restraining order. A person affected by an order issued under par. (b) may within the time provided by s. 893.76 apply to the circuit court for an order restraining the building inspector or other designated officer from razing the building or forever be barred. The hearing shall be held within 20 days and shall be given preference. The court shall determine whether the raze order is reasonable. If the order is found reasonable the court shall dissolve the restraining order. If the order is found not reasonable the court shall continue the restraining order or modify it as the circumstances require. Costs are in the discretion of the court. If the court finds that the order is unreasonable, the building inspector or other designated officer shall issue no other order under this subsection in regard to the same building until its condition is substantially changed. The remedies provided in this paragraph are exclusive remedies and anyone affected by an order issued under par. (b) is not entitled to recover any damages for the razing of the building.

66.0413(1)(i)(i) Removal of personal property. If a building subject to an order under par. (b) contains personal property or fixtures which will unreasonably interfere with the razing or repair of the building or if the razing makes necessary the removal, sale or destruction of the personal property or fixtures, the building inspector or other designated officer may order in writing the removal of the personal property or fixtures by a date certain. The order shall be served as provided in par. (d). If the personal property or fixtures are not removed by the time specified the inspector may store, sell or, if it has no appreciable value, destroy the personal property or fixture. If the property is stored the amount paid for storage is a lien against the property and against the real estate and, to the extent that the amount is not reimbursed under s. 632.103 (2) from funds withheld from an insurance settlement, shall be assessed and collected as a special tax against the real estate if the real estate is owned by the owner of the personal property and fixtures. If the property is stored the owner of the property, if known, shall be notified of the place of storage and if the property is not claimed by the owner it may be sold at the expiration of 6 months after it has been stored. The handling of the sale and the distribution of the net proceeds after deducting the cost of storage and any other costs shall be as specified in par. (j) and a report made to the circuit court as specified in par. (j). A person affected by any order made under this paragraph may appeal as provided in par. (h).

66.0413(1)(j)(j) Sale of salvage. If an order to raze a building has been issued, the governing body or other designated officer under the contract or arrangement to raze the building may sell the salvage and valuable materials at the highest price obtainable. The net proceeds of the sale, after deducting the expenses of razing the building, shall be promptly remitted to the circuit court with a report of the sale or transaction, including the items of expense and the amounts deducted, for the use of any person entitled to the net proceeds, subject to the order of the court. If there remains no surplus to be turned over to the court, the report shall so state.

66.0413(1)(L)1.1. Acts of municipal authorities under this subsection do not increase the liability of an insurer.

66.0413(1)(L)2.2. This section does not limit powers otherwise granted to municipalities by other laws of this state.

66.0413(2)(a)1.1. “Building” means a building, dwelling or structure.

66.0413(2)(a)2.2. “Public nuisance” means a building that, as a result of vandalism or any other reason, has deteriorated or is dilapidated or blighted to the extent that windows, doors or other openings, plumbing or heating fixtures, or facilities or appurtenances of the building are damaged, destroyed or removed so that the building offends the aesthetic character of the immediate neighborhood and produces blight or deterioration.

66.0413(2)(a)3.3. “Raze a building” means to demolish and remove the building and to restore the site to a dust-free and erosion-free condition.

66.0413(2)(b)(b) Notification of nuisance. If the owner of a building in a city, village or town permits the building to become a public nuisance, the building inspector or other designated officer of the city, village or town shall issue a written notice of the defect that makes the building a public nuisance. The written notice shall be served on the owner of the building as provided under sub. (1) (d) and shall direct the owner to remedy the defect within 30 days following service.

66.0413(2)(c)1.1. If an owner fails to remedy or improve the defect in accordance with the written notice under par. (b) within the 30-day period specified in the written notice, the building inspector or other designated officer shall apply to the circuit court of the county in which the building is located for an order determining that the building constitutes a public nuisance. As a part of the application for the order from the circuit court the building inspector or other designated officer shall file a verified petition which recites the giving of written notice, the defect in the building, the owner’s failure to comply with the notice and other pertinent facts. A copy of the petition shall be served upon the owner of record or the owner’s agent if an agent is in charge of the building and upon the holder of any encumbrance of record under sub. (1) (d). The owner shall reply to the petition within 20 days following service upon the owner. Upon application by the building inspector or other designated officer the circuit court shall set promptly the petition for hearing. Testimony shall be taken by the circuit court with respect to the allegations of the petition and denials contained in the verified answer. If the circuit court after hearing the evidence on the petition and answer determines that the building constitutes a public nuisance, the court shall issue promptly an order directing the owner of the building to remedy the defect and to make such repairs and alterations as may be required. The court shall set a reasonable period of time in which the defect shall be remedied and the repairs or alterations completed. A copy of the order shall be served upon the owner as provided in sub. (1) (d). The order of the circuit court shall state in the alternative that if the order of the court is not complied with within the time fixed by the court, the court will appoint a receiver or authorize the building inspector or other designated officer to proceed to raze the building under par. (d).

66.0413(2)(c)2.2. In an action under this subsection, the circuit court before which the action is commenced shall exercise jurisdiction in rem or quasi in rem over the property that is the subject of the action. The owner of record of the property, if known, and all other persons of record holding or claiming any interest in the property shall be made parties defendant, and service of process may be made upon them.