Elmwood Park, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 41B § 41B-3
Definitions (Elmwood Park Rental Residential Property Ordinance)
Operative Text
[ Ord. No. 2011-14 , 6-6-2011 ; amended 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-45 ] (a) For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section. FAMILY MEMBERS Persons related by blood or marriage. LANDLORD The owner, lessor or sublessor of rental residential property or the building of which it is a part. An owner is one or more persons, jointly or severally, 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 mortgagee in possession. MULTIPLE-FAMILY RENTAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY Rental residential property containing two or more dwelling units. PREMISES A lot, plot or parcel of land, including the interior and exterior of any structures thereon. RENTAL RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY Residential structures or dwelling units intended to be rented or leased, including single-family detached structures containing only one dwelling unit, condominium units, townhouse units, and multiple-family residential structures and intended to be used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons who maintain a household, together with all land, appurtenances, buildings and common areas. RESIDENTIAL RENTAL AGREEMENT All written or oral agreements of whatever duration which embody the terms and conditions concerning the use of and occupancy of a residential dwelling unit. TENANT A person entitled under a residential rental agreement to occupy a dwelling unit, to the exclusion of others. (b) Words or phrases as used in this chapter and not herein defined shall be defined as provided by the International Property Maintenance Code, 2003 edition, and International Building Code, 2003 edition, as amended.
Section 41B-3 of Elmwood Park's Municipal Code establishes the foundational vocabulary for Chapter 41B, the village's residential rental regulations. It defines key terms such as "landlord," "tenant," "rental residential property," and "residential rental agreement," setting the scope of who and what is covered under the chapter. Any word or phrase used in Chapter 41B that is not defined here defaults to the meaning provided in the 2003 editions of the International Property Maintenance Code and International Building Code, as amended.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 41B-3, a "landlord" is broadly defined to include owners, lessors, sublessors, and even mortgagees in possession, meaning that legal title is not the only basis for coverage under Chapter 41B. Property managers and others who hold beneficial ownership or a right to present use of a rental property should be aware that they may fall within this definition. Operators of any rental residential property in Elmwood Park—from single-family rentals to multi-unit buildings—should familiarize themselves with these definitions to understand which obligations under Chapter 41B apply to their properties.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 41B-3 defines a "tenant" as any person entitled under a residential rental agreement—written or oral—to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others, which means that oral lease arrangements are recognized under Chapter 41B alongside written ones. This broad definition of "rental residential property" covers single-family homes, condominiums, townhouses, and multi-family buildings, so tenants in a variety of housing types may be protected under the chapter. Tenants who are uncertain whether their housing situation falls within these definitions may benefit from consulting a local tenant-rights organization or reviewing the full text of Chapter 41B.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
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