Bellwood CHAPTER 124: LICENSING OF MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS FOR RENT § 124.29
DWELLINGS UNFIT FOR HUMAN HABITATION
Operative Text
The designation of multiple-family buildings, single-family dwelling units for rent, or dwelling units as unfit for human habitation and the procedure for the determination and placarding of such unfit dwellings or dwelling units shall be carried out in compliance with the following requirements: (A) Any dwelling or dwelling unit which fails to meet the requirements of § 124.15 and § 124.16 of this code shall be declared as unfit for human habitation and shall be so designated and placarded by the Comptroller. (B) Any multiple-family building, single-family dwelling unit for rent, or dwelling unit determined as unfit for human habitation, and so designated and placarded by the Comptroller shall be vacated within a reasonable time as ordered by the Comptroller; (C) No multiple-family building, single-family dwelling unit for rent, or dwelling unit which has been determined and placarded as unfit for human habitation shall again be used for human habitation until written approval is secured from, and such placard is removed by, the Comptroller, who shall removed such placard only when the defects upon which the determination and placarding action were based have been eliminated, and after the multiple-family building or dwelling unit has been inspected and been found to comply in all respects with the requirements of this chapter. (D) No person shall deface or remove the placard from any multiple-family building and dwelling unit which has been determined as unfit for human habitation and placarded as such, except as provided in division (C) of this section. (Ord. 03-43, passed 8-20-03; Am. Ord. 03-59, passed 11-12-03)
Bellwood § 124.29 establishes the process by which residential dwellings—including multi-family buildings and single-family rental units—can be officially declared unfit for human habitation. When a property fails to meet the standards set out in §§ 124.15 and 124.16, the Comptroller is authorized to formally designate it as unfit and post a placard on the property. The building must then be vacated within a timeframe set by the Comptroller, and it cannot be reoccupied until all deficiencies are corrected, the property passes inspection, and the Comptroller removes the placard. Tampering with or removing the placard without authorization is itself a violation of this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Bellwood § 124.29, property owners and managers operating multi-family buildings or single-family rental units are expected to maintain their properties in continuous compliance with §§ 124.15 and 124.16 to avoid an unfit-for-habitation designation. Compliant operators typically respond promptly to any Comptroller-issued placard by addressing all cited deficiencies, arranging a re-inspection, and obtaining written approval before allowing any tenant to reoccupy the unit. Operators also take care never to remove or deface an official placard themselves, as only the Comptroller is authorized to do so once compliance has been confirmed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Bellwood § 124.29 gives tenants living in substandard conditions a formal framework for protection: if a dwelling fails to meet the code standards referenced in §§ 124.15 and 124.16, the Comptroller can declare it unfit, post a placard, and order it vacated. Tenants who believe their unit may meet the threshold for an unfit designation can report conditions to the Bellwood Comptroller's office or a local tenant-rights organization to explore available options. If a placard has been posted on a property, tenants should be aware that reoccupying the unit before the Comptroller issues written approval and removes the placard is not permitted under this provision.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.