Public Act 0183 95TH GENERAL ASSEMBLY

HB1881 Enrolled LRB095 03849 HLH 23880 b

Public Act 095-0183

AN ACT concerning local government.

Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly:

Section 5. The Illinois Municipal Code is amended by changing Sections 11-20-7 and 11-20-12 as follows:

(65 ILCS 5/11-20-7) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-20-7)

Sec. 11-20-7. The corporate authorities of each municipality may provide for the cutting of weeds or grass, the trimming of trees or bushes, and the removal of nuisance bushes or trees in the municipality, when the owners of real estate refuse or neglect to cut, trim, or remove them and to collect from the owners of private property the reasonable cost thereof. This cost is a lien upon the real estate affected, superior to all other liens and encumbrances, except tax liens; provided that within 60 days after such cost and expense is incurred the municipality, or person performing the service by authority of the municipality, in his or its own name, files notice of lien in the office of the recorder in the county in which such real estate is located or in the office of the Registrar of Titles of such county if the real estate affected is registered under the Torrens system. The notice shall consist of a sworn statement setting out (1) a description of the real estate sufficient for identification thereof, (2) the amount of money representing the cost and expense incurred or payable for the service, and (3) the date or dates when such cost and expense was incurred by the municipality. However, the lien of such municipality shall not be valid as to any purchaser whose rights in and to such real estate have arisen subsequent to the cutting of weeds or grass, the trimming of trees or bushes, or the removal of nuisance bushes or trees weed-cutting and prior to the filing of such notice, and the lien of such municipality shall not be valid as to any mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lienor whose rights in and to such real estate arise prior to the filing of such notice. Upon payment of the cost and expense by the owner of or persons interested in such property after notice of lien has been filed, the lien shall be released by the municipality or person in whose name the lien has been filed and the release may be filed of record as in the case of filing notice of lien.

The cost of the cutting, trimming, or removal of weeds, grass, trees, or bushes shall not be lien on the real estate affected unless a notice is personally served on, or sent by certified mail to, the person to whom was sent the tax bill for the general taxes on the property for the last preceding year. The notice shall be delivered or sent after the cutting, trimming, or removal of weeds, grass, trees, or bushes on the property. The notice shall state the substance of this Section and the substance of any ordinance of the municipality implementing this Section and shall identify the property, by common description, and the location of the weeds to be cut.

(Source: P.A. 88-355.)

(65 ILCS 5/11-20-12) (from Ch. 24, par. 11-20-12)

Sec. 11-20-12. The corporate authorities of each municipality may provide for the removal of elm trees infected with Dutch elm disease or ash trees infected with the emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis Fairmaire) from property not owned by the municipality or dedicated for public use when the owner of such property refuses or neglects to remove any such tree, and to collect from the property owner the reasonable cost thereof. This cost is a lien upon the real estate affected, superior to all other liens and encumbrances, except tax liens; provided that notice has been given as hereinafter described, and further provided that within 60 days after such cost and expense is incurred the municipality, or person performing the service by authority of the municipality, in his or its own name, files notice of lien in the office of the recorder in the county in which such real estate is located or in the office of the Registrar of Titles of such county if the real estate affected is registered under "An Act concerning land titles", approved May 1, 1897, as amended. The notice shall consist of a sworn statement setting out (1) a description of the real estate sufficient for identification thereof, (2) the amount of money representing the cost and expense incurred or payable for the service, and (3) the date or dates when such cost and expense was incurred by the municipality. However, the lien of such municipality shall not be valid as to any purchaser whose rights in and to such real estate have arisen subsequent to the tree removal and prior to the filing of such notice, and the lien of such municipality shall not be valid as to any mortgagee, judgment creditor or other lienor whose rights in and to such real estate arise prior to the filing of such notice. Upon payment of the cost and expense by the owner of or persons interested in such property after notice of lien has been filed, the lien shall be released by the municipality or person in whose name the lien has been filed and the release may be filed of record as in the case of filing notice of lien.

The cost of such tree removal shall not be a lien upon the real estate affected unless a notice shall be personally served or sent by registered mail to the person to whom was sent the tax bill for the general taxes for the last preceding year on the property, such notice to be delivered or sent not less than 30 days prior to the removal of the tree or trees located thereon. The notice shall contain the substance of this section, and of any ordinance of the municipality implementing its provisions, and identify the property, by common description, and the tree or trees affected.

(Source: P.A. 83-358.)

Section 99. Effective date. This Act takes effect upon becoming law.