Edwardsville — Ch. 22 Art. VIII Residential Rental Properties Registration § 22-263
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words and phrases, when used in this article, shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except where the context otherwise requires. Building official means the director of public works, or his/her authorized designee. Duplex means a building with two units. Local agent means one or more persons or business entity who has charge, care, or control of a building in whole, or part thereof, in which rental units are maintained. Multi-family building means a structure that contains three or more rental units. Owner means one or more persons, jointly, severally or in common, or any organization, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to property, or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises, including a mortgage in possession. As used herein, an organization shall include a corporation, trust, estate, partnership, association or any other legal or commercial entity. The term shall not include a lessee who previously occupied a rental unit and who is subleasing the unit for the remaining part of his or her lease. Property Maintenance Code means the International Property Maintenance Code as adopted by the City of Edwardsville, as amended. Rental agreement means all agreements, written or oral, and rules and regulations embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and enjoyment of rented premises. It shall also include subleases. Rental property means a structure with one or more residential units which are leased for occupancy. However, it does not include property excluded under section 22-262 . Rental unit means one or more rooms in a structure arranged, designed and used as a residence or living quarters by one or more persons who are not its owner(s), and contained within a rental property as defined herein. Rent, rented or rental means any payment made to an owner or an owner's agent pursuant to a rental agreement. Single-family dwelling means a residential structure with one rental unit.
Section 22-263 of Edwardsville's Ch. 22 Art. VIII establishes the specific meanings of key terms used throughout the Residential Rental Properties Registration article. Words like 'owner,' 'rental unit,' 'local agent,' and 'rental property' carry defined meanings within this article that may differ from everyday usage or definitions found elsewhere in the code. These definitions set the boundaries of who and what is covered by the registration requirements that follow in the article, including a notable exclusion for sublessees who previously occupied a unit and are subleasing only for the remainder of their own lease.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 22-263, property owners and managers should be aware that the article applies specific definitions to terms like 'owner,' 'local agent,' and 'rental property' that govern how the rest of Ch. 22 Art. VIII is interpreted. Compliant operators generally ensure that anyone who has 'charge, care, or control' of a building — the defined role of a local agent — is properly identified in registration documents, since that term carries a precise meaning here. Understanding whether a property qualifies as a single-family dwelling, duplex, or multi-family building under § 22-263 is also relevant, as those distinctions can affect how other provisions of the article apply.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 22-263 defines the terms that shape tenant rights and landlord obligations throughout Edwardsville's Residential Rental Properties Registration article, including what counts as a 'rental unit' and a 'rental agreement.' Notably, the definition of 'rental agreement' in § 22-263 explicitly includes subleases, meaning subtenants may have standing under the article's protections. Tenants who want to understand how these definitions affect their situation can review the full article, consult a tenant-rights organization, or contact the City of Edwardsville's office of the building official for clarification.
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.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation