Alton CHAPTER 21 REGULATION OF RENTAL DWELLING UNITS § 4-21-3
REGULATORY CERTIFICATE REQUIRED
Operative Text
A. It shall be unlawful for any person or beneficial owner to engage in the business of renting or leasing one or more residential dwelling units in the City of Alton without a current Class B Regulatory Certificate (also referred to herein as "license") as defined in chapter 1 of this title. The requirements of this chapter shall not be applicable to any governmental housing authorities or departments, boarding houses, hotels or nursing homes. The provisions of subsection 4-1-3 B of this title shall not apply to Regulatory Certificates or registrations required by this chapter. B. No license shall be issued/renewed if the applicant or any beneficial owner of an entity which is the landlord: 1. Is delinquent in the payment of any fees, service charges, taxes, or fines due the City of Alton; 2. Is found to have violated any requirements of the Building or Housing Codes of the City of Alton; 3. Has failed to disclose a rental dwelling unit within the City of Alton; 4. Has not attended and successfully completed a seminar conducted by the Alton Department of Housing and Code Enforcement, regarding residential property rental, no more than three (3) months after the issuance or renewal of the business license; C. Every agreement for lease of residential real estate located within the City of Alton, executed or renewed after December 31, 2018, whether oral or written, shall include, or be deemed to include, all terms listed of the Crime Free Lease Addendum, which is on file in the City, as exhibit A. (Ord. 7674, 12-19-2018, eff. 1-1-2019)
Alton's § 4-21-3 makes it unlawful to rent or lease any residential dwelling unit in the City of Alton without holding a current Class B Regulatory Certificate (license). The provision sets out several grounds on which a license may be denied or not renewed, including unpaid city fees or taxes, building or housing code violations, failure to disclose rental units, and failure to complete a required housing seminar within three months of licensure. Additionally, every residential lease executed or renewed after December 31, 2018 is automatically deemed to incorporate the terms of the City's Crime Free Lease Addendum, regardless of whether it is written or oral. Certain entities, including governmental housing authorities, boarding houses, hotels, and nursing homes, are exempt from these requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Alton § 4-21-3, operators of residential rental properties in the City of Alton are generally expected to obtain and maintain a current Class B Regulatory Certificate before renting any unit. Compliant operators typically stay current on all city fees, taxes, and fines; resolve any building or housing code violations; disclose all rental units to the city; and complete the Alton Department of Housing and Code Enforcement seminar within three months of issuance or renewal of their license. Landlords should also ensure that all lease agreements entered into or renewed after December 31, 2018 reflect the Crime Free Lease Addendum terms required by § 4-21-3(C), as those terms are deemed included by law even if not written into the lease.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Alton § 4-21-3 establishes that any landlord renting a residential unit in the City of Alton is required to hold a valid Class B Regulatory Certificate, and that all leases signed or renewed after December 31, 2018 are legally treated as including the Crime Free Lease Addendum terms. Tenants may find it useful to know whether their landlord holds a current license, as operating without one is unlawful under this provision. Those who believe their landlord may be out of compliance can consider contacting the Alton Department of Housing and Code Enforcement or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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