Breese — Ch. 7 Art. IX Residential Rental Properties § 7-9-13
PENALTIES
Operative Text
Should an occupant be permitted by the owner and/or landlord, or the agent or representative of the owner and/or landlord, to occupy any rental residential real estate without first obtaining a Health Safety Inspection Certification, the owner and/or landlord shall be subject to a fine of Fifty Dollars ($50.00). Each day of unlawful occupancy shall be considered a new violation and subject to an additional fine in the amounts stated herein. Failure to obtain a Health Safety Inspection Certification prior to an occupancy moving into and the City conducting an inspection of the rental property shall not waive the right of the City to enter onto and conduct an inspection of the rental property and to prohibit further occupancy of the rental property until the owner and/or landlord is in compliance with the Division and the Code.
Under Breese Ch. 7 Art. IX § 7-9-13, a landlord who allows a tenant to move into a rental unit before obtaining a required Health Safety Inspection Certification faces a $50 fine. That fine resets and accumulates every day the unlawful occupancy continues, meaning costs can grow quickly over time. Even if the certification was never obtained, the City retains the authority to inspect the property and can prohibit anyone from living there until the owner comes into compliance.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Breese Ch. 7 Art. IX § 7-9-13 generally secure a valid Health Safety Inspection Certification before any new occupant moves into a rental unit. Because each day of non-compliant occupancy is treated as a separate violation carrying a $50 fine, compliant operators treat the certification as a prerequisite to handing over keys rather than an administrative step that can follow move-in. Maintaining documentation of inspection timelines and certification dates is a practice commonly associated with staying in good standing under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Breese Ch. 7 Art. IX § 7-9-13, tenants have an interest in knowing whether their unit received a Health Safety Inspection Certification before they moved in, since the absence of one can trigger City enforcement action—including a potential prohibition on further occupancy. If a tenant believes their unit was occupied without the required certification, they may consider contacting the City of Breese directly to inquire about the property's inspection status. Tenant-rights organizations can also help residents understand what options are generally available when a landlord has not met pre-occupancy inspection requirements.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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