Under what condition may a municipality not impose a lien for expenses incurred for a structure?

A municipality may not impose a lien for expenses incurred for a structure on property recognized as a homestead because homestead properties are often protected under state laws that provide certain rights to homeowners. These laws typically shield homesteads from various creditors, making it difficult for municipalities to impose liens for violations or expenses related to code enforcement.

In many jurisdictions, the homestead exemption is designed to protect property owners from losing their homes due to debts or unpaid expenses. When a property is designated as a homestead, it typically enjoys protections, including limits on the amount that can be placed in lien against it. This means that while a municipality can still seek compliance or remediation on a homesteaded property, it may not secure a lien against the property as it would with non-homestead properties.

The other conditions, such as whether the property is abandoned or has been recently sold, or even if expenses exceed a particular amount, do not automatically exempt the property from liens in the same way that a homestead designation does. Each of those scenarios might have different implications for enforcement or remediation but would not inherently prevent the municipality from imposing a lien.