Fairview Heights, IL Code of Ordinances Art. XI Residential Rental License §§ 8-11-1 – 8-11-11 § 8-11-3
Residential Rental License Required
Operative Text
(A) No person, corporate or business entity, trust, condominium, townhouse or
homeowners’ association shall operate a rental dwelling or dwelling unit unless a Residential Rental
License has been issued by the City for the rental unit.
(B) Exceptions – Authorized agencies operating dwelling units for the following
purposes shall not be required to obtain a Residential Rental License:
(1) Dwelling units determined by the City to be primarily involved in housing
the elderly which have a reasonable level of medical or nursing care.
(2) Group homes governed by the Specialized Living Centers Act 405 ILCS
35/1 et seq., as amended, dealing with developmentally disabled or
other similar uses governed by state or federal laws, rules or regulations,
provided such similar uses are required to be exempt by law. This
exemption shall be limited to the operating agency when the agency is
the owner of the dwelling property. An independent or private owner
offering a dwelling for rent for these purposes shall be required to obtain
a Residential Rental License issued by the City.
(3) Properties that are operated primarily as a hotel/motel.Section 8-11-3 of the Fairview Heights Residential Rental License ordinance establishes that any person, company, trust, or association that operates a rental dwelling or dwelling unit within the city must first obtain a Residential Rental License from the City of Fairview Heights. The rule carves out limited exceptions for certain specialized facilities, including elder-care housing with medical or nursing services, group homes governed by the Specialized Living Centers Act (405 ILCS 35/1 et seq.) when the operating agency itself owns the property, and properties functioning primarily as hotels or motels. Private or independent owners who rent dwellings for those same specialized purposes do not qualify for the exemption and must still obtain a license.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-11-3, any landlord or property management entity operating a rental dwelling in Fairview Heights is generally expected to secure a Residential Rental License from the City before renting out a unit. Compliant operators typically confirm whether their property qualifies for one of the narrow exemptions — such as agency-owned group homes or elder-care facilities with nursing services — before assuming a license is unnecessary. Independent or private owners who rent to tenants in group-home or similar settings should be aware that the exemption under § 8-11-3 applies only to the operating agency when it also owns the property, not to private landlords renting for those purposes.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-11-3 gives tenants in Fairview Heights a basis to verify that their landlord holds a valid Residential Rental License issued by the City, since operating a rental unit without one is a violation of the ordinance. Tenants who believe their landlord may be operating without the required license can generally inquire with the City of Fairview Heights about the license status of their rental unit or raise the absence of a license as a relevant fact in housing-related proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Fairview Heights municipal code can help residents understand what options may be available when a landlord appears to be out of compliance with § 8-11-3.
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.
Effective Timeline
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