Harvey, Ill., Mun. Code title 17 § 17-04-010
Purpose and declaration of policy (Harvey Residential Landlord and Tenant Rights Regulations)
Operative Text
It is the purpose of this title and the policy of the city, in order to protect and promote the public health, safety and welfare of its citizens, to establish rights and obligations of the landlord and the tenant in the rental of dwelling units in the city and to encourage the landlord and the tenant to maintain and improve the quality of rental housing within the community. This title shall be liberally construed and applied to promote its purposes and policies. ( Ord. 3122 § 1 (part), 2004 )
Section 17-04-010 of Harvey's municipal code establishes the foundational purpose of the city's residential landlord-tenant regulations: to protect public health, safety, and welfare by defining the rights and responsibilities of both landlords and tenants in rental housing. The provision also directs that the entire title be interpreted broadly and generously to advance those goals. It sets the tone for how all subsequent provisions in Title 17 are to be understood and applied.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 17-04-010, Harvey's rental housing rules are designed to be read expansively, meaning that ambiguities in the code are generally resolved in favor of the title's protective purposes rather than narrowly in a landlord's favor. Operators who maintain and improve the quality of their rental units align with the policy goals the city explicitly declared in this provision. Familiarity with this foundational section helps property managers understand the spirit in which all of Title 17's requirements are intended to be enforced.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 17-04-010 signals that Harvey's rental code was enacted specifically to protect tenant health, safety, and welfare, and that courts and agencies are directed to interpret the title's provisions liberally in pursuit of those goals. This means that when a dispute arises under Title 17, the code's protective purposes are a recognized backdrop for any complaint or defense a tenant might raise. Tenants who believe their rights under Title 17 have been violated may wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization or legal aid office to understand how this broad interpretive mandate could apply to their situation.
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 8, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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