145.41. A council of a municipality may, by by-law, set standards and prescribe measures for the occupancy and maintenance of buildings.
If a building is decrepit or dilapidated, a municipality where a by-law under the first paragraph is in force may require that restoration, repair or maintenance work be carried out. The municipality must send the owner of the building a written notice indicating the work to be done to bring the building into conformity with the standards and measures prescribed by regulation and the time limit for carrying out the work. The municipality may grant additional time.
If the owner fails to carry out the work, the Superior Court may, on application by the municipality, authorize the latter to carry it out and recover the cost from the owner. The application is heard and decided by preference.
The cost of such work constitutes a prior claim on the immovable on which the work is carried out in the same manner and with the same rank as the claims described in paragraph 5 of article 2651 of the Civil Code. The cost is secured by a legal hypothec on the immovable.
2004, c. 20, s. 9; I.N. 2016-01-01 (NCCP).