Countryside Title 8 Ch. 14 Residential Rental Housing § 8-14-2

ABANDONED DWELLING:
A dwelling unit, building, structure, property, or part thereof that has not been actively used for its intended, designed, or permitted purpose for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, or for a cumulative period of eighteen (18) months during any three (3) year period.

ABANDONED USE:
A non-conforming use within a dwelling unit, building, structure, property, or part thereof and that has been discontinued for a period of twelve (12) consecutive months, or for a minimum of eighteen (18) months during any three (3) year period.

APARTMENT:
A dwelling unit within an apartment building.

APARTMENT BUILDING:
A residential building containing three or more dwelling units. An apartment building may also be classified as a multi-family dwelling.

APPROVED:
Having received approval of the City of Countryside Community Development Department.

BATHROOM:
A room meeting the criteria of Title 8-14-4 of this Code.

BEDROOM:
A room within a dwelling unit capable of being used for sleeping purposes, having a closet and an openable window, and meets the minimum square footage requirements as described in 8-14-4-3 as provided in the International Property Maintenance Code (2015 or as adopted edition).

BUILDING COMMISSIONER:
The Building Official appointed by the City Council to enforce all Codes and Ordinances adopted by the City Council of Countryside, Illinois.

CITY:
The City of Countryside, Illinois

DANGEROUS BUILDINGS, STRUCTURE, OR PREMISES:
Any building, structure or premises that has become or remains in an unsafe or dilapidated condition so to pose a danger to public health, safety or welfare.

DUPLEX:
A single building containing only two (2) dwelling units, side-by-side or one above the other.

DWELLING UNIT:
One or more rooms containing individualized cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities which is designed to be occupied or intended for use by one household.

FAMILY:
An individual, or two or more persons related by blood, marriage or adoption, living together as a single household unit; or a group of not more than four (4) persons not related by blood, marriage or adoption, living together as a single household unit.

GRADE FLOOR OPENING:
Window or other opening located such that the sill height of the opening is not more than forty-four inches (44") above or below the finished ground level adjacent to the opening.

GRANDFATHERING:
Permitted use of a previously existing non conformity. (See “Previously Existing Non-Conformity”).

HABITABLE ROOM:
Any room meeting the requirements of this Code for living, sleeping, cooking or dining purposes, but not including bathrooms, pantries, hallways, storage areas, utility rooms, or unfinished cellars/basements, or attics.

HOT WATER:
Water at a temperature between 85°F - 110°F.

HOUSEHOLD:
see Family.

IMMEDIATE FAMILY:
Kinship members including:

Mother: a female parent

Father: a male parent

Son: a male child of the parent(s)

Daughter: a female child of the parent(s)

Brother: a male child of the same parent(s)

Sister: a female child of the same parent(s)

Grandfather: a parent’s father

Grandmother: a parent’s mother

Grandson: a child’s son

Granddaughter: a child’s daughter

IMMINENT DANGER:
A condition which could cause serious or life-threatening injury or death at any time.

KITCHEN:
An area or room meeting the criteria of Title 8-14-4 of this code.

LANDLORD:
The land Owner, lessor, or sub-lessor of Rental Residential Property.

LESSEE:
See Tenant.

OCCUPANT:
A person who lives in a dwelling unit. An occupant who is not an individual owner is a tenant.

OWNER:
The land owner, person, agent, operator, firm or corporation having a legal or equitable interest in the property; or recorded in the Land records of Countryside, Illinois, as holding any interest in title to the property; or otherwise having control of the property, including the guardian of the estate of any such person, and the Personal Representative of the estate of such person if ordered to take possession of real property by a court.

OWNER’S AGENT:
A person eighteen (18) years of age or older who maintains a primary residence (as defined herein) or an office for the purpose of transacting business in the City of Countryside and is customarily present to perform the duties of managing agent on a full time basis whether the rental unit is occupied or not.

PREVIOUSLY EXISTING NON CONFORMITY:
Occupancy levels or permissible number of units in a dwelling granted prior to the adoption of The City of Countryside Code, which would be less under that Code or subsequent amendments.

PRIMARY RESIDENCE:
A dwelling unit maintained and occupied on a routine basis by at least one individual owner more than 50% of the year and can be proven to be that individual owner’s legal residence through tax records or other official documents filed with the state or federal government. A residence occupied by its owner 50% or less of the year is classified as a “Secondary Residence”.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE CODE:
The duly adopted Property Maintenance Code of the City of Countryside. (Title 8 Chapter 1-1)

REGISTRATION:
The process by which owners submit application for a license to operate one or more rental units in the City. All rental units must be licensed and registered to be occupied by tenants. A license and occupancy may be refused or revoked by the City on units not in compliance.

RENTAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY:
See Residential Rental Housing.

RENTAL UNIT:
An independent dwelling unit not occupied by the owner as a primary or secondary residence. See “Residential Rental Housing” definition.

RENTER:
A Tenant. (See Tenant).

RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING:
A dwelling, townhouse, condominium, dwelling unit, rooming unit, building, premise or structure for residential use by a person or persons who is not the legal owner of record. Units occupied by immediate family as herein defined are not considered residential rental housing. This Code is not intended to, and does not, apply to hotels, motels, nursing homes or assisted living facilities. (Ord. 15-40-O, 9-9-2015)

SECONDARY RESIDENCE:
A dwelling unit occupied by an owner less than 50% of the year and occupied by no one else at any time except for individuals related by blood or marriage when the owner is actually present.

SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENCE:
A building designed to be occupied by a family; single household. See Family.

TENANT:
A person not the owner who occupies a dwelling unit with the consent of the owner for monetary or non-monetary consideration.

ZONING ORDINANCE:
The City of Countryside Zoning Code (Title 10 City of Countryside, IL). (Ord. 21-36-O, 9-22-2021; amd. Ord. 25-29-O, 10-22-2025)