Nuisance Abatements

The Cole County Health Department or one of the county's municipalities may declare that a property is a public nuisance if the condition of the property may endanger public safety, or is unhealthy or unsafe.
  • Conditions such as the presence of trash or rubbish, derelict vehicles, abandoned appliances, or overgrown or noxious weeds may constitute a public nuisance.
  • The property owner will be notified that a public nuisance exists and will be given a specified period of time to abate, or clean up, the nuisance.
  • If the property owner fails to comply or abate the nuisance, the Cole County Commission and/or authorities within a county municipality may issue an order of abatement in which the costs to abate the nuisance is expended to the County Health Department and/or other appropriate municipal authorities.
  • The county and/or municipality will seek restitution for the costs by creating a special assessment tax bill that is to be collected by the Cole County Collector.
  • The special assessment tax bill for the abatement is due by December 31 in the year of the assessment. The bill will be considered delinquent if unpaid by January 1 of the following year. All applicable late penalties and fees will apply to delinquent bills.
  • The special assessment resulting from a nuisance abatement shall be considered a personal debt against the owner and it shall also be a lien on the property until it is paid.
For answers to any questions concerning a nuisance abatement bill, please contact the collector’s office at 573-634-9124.