A property shall not be considered abandoned residential property if: (i) there is an unoccupied building which is undergoing construction, renovation, or rehabilitation that is proceeding diligently to completion, and the building is in substantial compliance with all applicable ordinances, codes, regulations, and laws; (ii) there is a building occupied on a seasonal basis, but otherwise secure; (iii) there is a secure building on which there are bona fide rental or sale signs; (iv) there is a building that is secure, but is the subject of a probate action, action to quiet title, or other ownership dispute; or (v) there is a building that is otherwise secure and in substantial compliance with all applicable ordinances, codes, regulations, and laws.
15-1200.7.Abandoned residential property; exceptions.
Article XV. Mortgage Foreclosure · Part 12. Definitions · Last amended 2013 · Last verified July 20, 2026
In one sentenceThis section lists five situations, such as active renovation, seasonal use, bona fide sale signs, or an ownership dispute, in which property is not considered abandoned residential property even if it looks vacant.
Full Text of 735 ILCS 5/15-1200.7
Plain-English Summary
Section 15-1200.7 works as a set of exceptions to Section 15-1200.5's definition of abandoned residential property. Even a property that might otherwise look empty or neglected falls outside the definition if one of five circumstances applies: an unoccupied building undergoing construction, renovation, or rehabilitation that is proceeding diligently to completion and substantially complies with applicable codes and laws; a building occupied only seasonally but otherwise secure; a secure building carrying bona fide rental or sale signs; a secure building tied up in a probate action, a quiet title action, or another ownership dispute; or a building that is otherwise secure and substantially compliant with applicable codes and laws.
Each exception shares a common thread: the property is either actively being worked on, deliberately used on a limited basis, or kept secure and code-compliant despite low or no current occupancy. That keeps the abandonment label reserved for properties that are neglected rather than merely vacant for an ordinary, explainable reason.
Frequently Asked Questions
What five situations keep a property from counting as abandoned residential property?
Active, diligent construction or renovation in substantial code compliance; seasonal occupancy of an otherwise secure building; a secure building with bona fide rental or sale signs; a secure building caught up in a probate, quiet title, or other ownership dispute; and any other secure building in substantial compliance with applicable codes and laws.
Does a vacant seasonal home qualify as abandoned under this Article?
No, so long as it is occupied on a seasonal basis and otherwise secure, it falls within this section's exception.
What if a property is tied up in a probate dispute?
A secure building that is the subject of a probate action, an action to quiet title, or another ownership dispute is excepted from the abandoned residential property definition.
Must the building be secure to qualify for these exceptions?
For most of the listed exceptions, yes, security of the building is a stated condition, though the active-construction exception instead requires diligent progress and code compliance.
How does this section interact with Section 15-1200.5?
Section 15-1200.5 defines abandoned residential property, and this section carves out situations that take a property outside that definition even though it might otherwise appear to fit.
Amendment History
(Source: P.A. 97-1164, eff. 6-1-13.)
Source & verification. Section text and amendment history are
reproduced verbatim from the Illinois Compiled Statutes, published by the
Illinois Compiled Statutes, Illinois General Assembly / Legislative Reference Bureau. Last verified July 20, 2026.
· Official source
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