Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-15
OFFICIAL RECORDS
Operative Text
An official record shall be kept of all business and activities specified in the provisions of this article. All applications, final decisions, permits, certificates of compliance and the like issued by the code official shall be in writing and shall be maintained in the permanent records of the building department. All such records shall be open to public inspection as are consistent with the freedom of information act of the state at all appropriate times and according to reasonable rules to maintain the integrity and security of such records. However, the failure of the city to maintain or produce such records shall not be a defense to any action hereunder. (Ord. 2003-O-75, 12-16-2003; amd. Ord. 07-O-4, 2-6-2007)
Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-15 requires that all applications, decisions, permits, and certificates of compliance related to rental property safety be documented in writing and kept as permanent records by the building department. These records must be available for public inspection in accordance with the state's Freedom of Information Act, subject to reasonable rules protecting their integrity and security. Importantly, if the city fails to maintain or produce these records, that failure does not excuse or serve as a defense against any enforcement action under this article.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10-2C-15, compliant property owners and managers generally keep their own copies of all permits, certificates of compliance, and related documents issued by the code official, since the city's failure to produce records is not a defense to enforcement. Operators familiar with this provision understand that official records are publicly accessible, meaning inspections, violations, and compliance history may be reviewed by prospective tenants or other parties. Maintaining organized personal files of all building department correspondence helps demonstrate a history of compliance independent of the city's recordkeeping.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 10-2C-15 establishes that rental property safety records — including permits, certificates of compliance, and official decisions — are public records that residents may request to inspect under the state's Freedom of Information Act. Tenants can use this provision to review a property's compliance history with the Highwood building department, which may be relevant when evaluating housing conditions or understanding past enforcement activity. If records are difficult to obtain, tenant-rights organizations or legal aid resources can help navigate the public records request process.
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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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