Village of Louisville v. Webster

Citations

• 108 Ill. 414
• 1884 Ill. LEXIS 1493

Syllabus

<p>1. Municipal corporation—fire limits—removal of wooden buildings—powers of municipal authorities. Under the general Incorporation law, conferring power-upon municipal authorities to prescribe fire limits, within which wooden buildings shall not be erected or placed or'repaired without permission, and to direct that all and any buildings within such limits, when damaged by fire to the extent of fifty per cent of the value, shall be torn down and removed, the authorities are not permitted, in the first instance, to tear down and remove such a building, or cause the same to be done, but they are empowered only to direct the tearing down and removal of such building, and the person to be so directed is the owner. This must first be done before the corporate authorities may take such stringent measures.</p> <p>2. Rule oe construction—as to powers of municipal corporations. A clause in a charter of a municipal corporation giving power to prescribe fire limits, and direct the removal of all buildings therein which may be damaged to a certain extent, should receive a strict construction in favor of the owners of such buildings.</p>