DeKalb, IL Municipal Code Ch. 10 Landlord-Tenant Regulations § 10.02
Application
Operative Text
The Landlord and Tenant may include in any rental agreement, terms and conditions not prohibited by this Chapter and other rules of law including rent, length of the agreement and other provisions governing the rights and obligation of the parties. However, terms and conditions contained in rental agreements shall not conflict with any of the provisions contained herein. All such conflicting terms and conditions shall be void as against public policy. Regardless of the enforceability of such conflicting terms, it shall be a violation of this ordinance for a Landlord to propose or to enter into an agreement in violation of this Code or other City Ordinance.
Under DeKalb Municipal Code Ch. 10 § 10.02, landlords and tenants are free to negotiate and include a wide range of terms in a rental agreement — such as rent amount, lease duration, and other rights and obligations — as long as those terms do not conflict with the Chapter's requirements or other applicable law. Any lease provision that does conflict with the Chapter is automatically void as a matter of public policy, meaning it cannot be enforced. Beyond unenforceability, the ordinance goes a step further: a landlord commits a violation simply by proposing or signing an agreement that contains such conflicting terms, even if those terms are never actually enforced.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under DeKalb Municipal Code Ch. 10 § 10.02 generally review all lease templates and addenda to confirm that no clause contradicts the Chapter's requirements or other City Ordinances before presenting them to prospective tenants. Because the ordinance treats the mere act of proposing a non-compliant term as a violation — separate from whether the term is ever enforced — compliant operators typically audit their standard lease language on a regular basis and update it whenever local regulations change. Keeping documentation of those reviews can help demonstrate good-faith compliance with § 10.02.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under DeKalb Municipal Code Ch. 10 § 10.02, tenants have the right to have any lease clause that conflicts with the Chapter treated as void and unenforceable, regardless of whether they signed the agreement. If a landlord proposes or includes such a term, that act itself constitutes a violation of the ordinance, which may provide grounds for raising the issue as a defense in a dispute or filing a complaint with the appropriate local authority. Tenants who believe a lease clause violates § 10.02 may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider familiar with DeKalb's municipal code for general information about 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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