2023 Indiana Code › Title 36. Local Government › Article 7. Planning and Development › Chapter 9. Unsafe Building Law › 36-7-9-11. Liability for Costs for Performance of Work Required by Orders

Sec. 11. (a) The work required by an order of the enforcement authority may be performed in the following manner:
(1) If the work is being performed under an order other than an order under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter, and if the cost of this work is estimated to be less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000), the department, acting through the unit's enforcement authority or other agent, may perform the work by means of the unit's own workers and equipment owned or leased by the unit. Notice that this work is to be performed must be given to all persons with a known or recorded substantial property interest, in the manner prescribed in subsection (c), at least ten (10) days before the date of performance of the work by the enforcement authority. This notice must include a statement that an amount representing a reasonable estimate of the cost incurred by the enforcement authority in processing the matter and performing the work may, if not paid, be recorded after a hearing as a lien against all persons having a fee interest, life estate interest, or equitable interest of a contract purchaser in the unsafe premises.
(2) If the work is being performed under an order other than an order under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter, and if the estimated cost of this work is ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or more, this work must be let at public bid to a contractor licensed and qualified under law. The obligation to pay costs imposed by section 12 of this chapter is based on the condition of the unsafe premises at the time the public bid was accepted. Changes occurring in the condition of the unsafe premises after the public bid was accepted do not eliminate or diminish this obligation.
(3) If the work is being performed under an order issued under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter, the work may be performed by a contractor who has been awarded a base bid contract to perform the work for the enforcement authority, or by the department, acting through the unit's enforcement authority or other governmental agency and using the unit's own workers and equipment owned or leased by the unit. Work performed under an order issued under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter may be performed without further notice to the persons holding a fee interest, life estate interest, or equitable interest of a contract purchaser, and these persons are liable for the costs incurred by the enforcement authority in processing the matter and performing the work, as provided by section 12 of this chapter.
(b) Bids may be solicited and accepted for work on more than one (1) property if the bid reflects an allocation of the bid amount among the various unsafe premises in proportion to the work to be accomplished. The part of the bid amount attributable to each of the unsafe premises constitutes the basis for calculating the part of the costs described by section 12(a)(1) of this chapter.
(c) All persons who have a known or recorded substantial property interest in the unsafe premises and are subject to an order other than an order under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter must be notified about the public bid in the manner prescribed by section 25 of this chapter, by means of a written statement including:
(1) the name of the person to whom the order was issued;
(2) a legal description or address of the unsafe premises that are the subject of the order;
(3) a statement that a contract is to be let at public bid to a licensed contractor to accomplish work to comply with the order;
(4) a description of work to be accomplished;
(5) a statement that both the bid price of the licensed contractor who accomplishes the work and an amount representing a reasonable estimate of the cost incurred by the enforcement authority in processing the matter of the unsafe premises may, if not paid, be recorded after a hearing as a lien against all persons having a fee interest, life estate interest, or equitable interest of a contract purchaser in the unsafe premises;
(6) the time of the bid opening;
(7) the place of the bid opening; and
(8) the name, address, and telephone number of the enforcement authority.
(d) If the notice of the statement that public bids are to be let is served by publication, the publication must include the information required by subsection (c), except that it need only include a general description of the work to be accomplished. The publication must also state that a copy of the statement of public bid may be obtained from the enforcement authority.
(e) Notice of the statement that public bids are to be let must be given, at least ten (10) days before the date of the public bid, to all persons who have a known or recorded substantial property interest in the property and are subject to an order other than an order under section 5(a)(2), 5(a)(3), or 5(a)(4) of this chapter.
(f) If action is being taken under this section on the basis of an order that was served by publication, it is sufficient to serve the statement that public bids are to be let by publication, unless the enforcement authority has received information in writing that enables the unit to make service under section 25 of this chapter by a method other than publication.
[Pre-Local Government Recodification Citation: 18-5-5.5-15 part.]
As added by Acts 1981, P.L.309, SEC.28. Amended by P.L.59-1986, SEC.11; P.L.255-1996, SEC.26; P.L.169-2006, SEC.63.