Carbondale Title 4 Ch. 4 Housing Code § 4-4-17
UNLAWFUL INTERRUPTION OF TENANT OCCUPANCY
Operative Text
A. Prohibited: It is unlawful for any landlord or any person acting at their direction to knowingly oust or dispossess or attempt to oust or dispossess any tenant from a dwelling unit without authority of law, by plugging, changing, adding or removing any lock or latching device; or by blocking any entrance into said unit; or by removing any door or window from said unit; or by interfering with the services to said unit, including, but not limited to, electricity, gas, hot or cold water, plumbing, heat or telephone services; or by removing a tenant's personal property from said unit; or by the use of force or threat of violence, injury or force to a tenant's person or property; or by any other act rendering a dwelling unit or any part thereof or any personal property located therein inaccessible or uninhabitable. B. Exclusion: The provisions of this section shall not apply where: 1. A landlord acts in compliance with the laws of Illinois pertaining to forcible entry and detainer and engages the sheriff of Jackson County to forcibly evict a tenant or his personal property; or 2. A landlord acts in compliance with the laws of Illinois pertaining to distress for rent; or 3. A landlord acts pursuant to court order; or 4. A landlord interferes temporarily with possession only as necessary to make needed repairs or inspection and only as provided by law; or 5. The tenants with a right to possession of the dwelling unit have been absent therefrom for thirty (30) consecutive days without advising the landlord of such absence or their intent to return, current rent is thirty (30) or more days overdue, and after diligent inquiry the landlord has reason to believe that tenants have abandoned the premises and do not intend to return. 6. If it appears on the face of the lease document that the lease term has expired, a rebuttable presumption will be created excluding the landlord from the provisions of this section. (1998 Code)
Carbondale Title 4 Ch. 4 Housing Code § 4-4-17 prohibits landlords and anyone acting on their behalf from forcing a tenant out of a dwelling unit through self-help measures — such as changing locks, blocking entrances, removing doors or windows, cutting off utilities, removing personal property, or using threats and force — without legal authority. The rule recognizes several lawful exceptions, including court-ordered evictions carried out by the Jackson County sheriff, compliance with Illinois distress-for-rent laws, temporary interference for necessary repairs, and situations where a tenant appears to have abandoned the unit. A landlord who acts within one of these defined exceptions is not subject to the prohibition.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Carbondale Title 4 Ch. 4 Housing Code § 4-4-17 generally ensure that any removal of a tenant from a dwelling unit follows a legally authorized process — such as obtaining a court order and engaging the Jackson County sheriff — rather than resorting to lock changes, utility shutoffs, or removal of personal property. Compliant operators document repair-related temporary interruptions carefully and limit them to what is strictly necessary and permitted by law. When a unit appears abandoned, operators typically conduct diligent inquiry and confirm that the conditions specified in § 4-4-17(B)(5) are met before taking any action to reclaim possession.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Carbondale Title 4 Ch. 4 Housing Code § 4-4-17, tenants have a right to remain in their dwelling unit free from self-help eviction tactics, including lock changes, utility shutoffs, removal of doors or windows, and threats of force. If a landlord engages in any of these prohibited acts without legal authority, a tenant may have grounds to raise a violation of § 4-4-17 as a defense in legal proceedings or to pursue a complaint through local code enforcement or municipal authorities. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help tenants understand the range of options available 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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