Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-19
PENALTIES
Operative Text
A. Any person, partnership, firm, entity or corporation, or employee of same, in violation of any provision of this article shall be fined as provided in section 1-4-1 of this code. (2009 Code) B. The conviction or punishment of any person, partnership, firm, entity or corporation for violation of the provisions of this article shall not release such person from paying any fee due and unpaid at the time of such conviction, nor shall payment of any fee prevent prosecution for violation of any of the provisions of this article. C. The amount of any fee due hereunder shall be deemed a debt to the city. An action may be commenced in the name of the city in any court of competent jurisdiction for the amount of any delinquent fee. All unpaid fees shall be deemed delinquent after they are due and payable. D. In the case of any violation of this article, the code official or any other enforcement officer may request the city attorney to institute an appropriate action or proceeding in equity or at law to exact the fines and penalties provided above. Also, the code official or any such enforcement officer may refer such matter to the mayor or city council. The mayor, city council, code official or enforcement officer may request and/or direct the city attorney to proceed at law or in equity against any person, partnership, firm, entity or corporation determined to be in violation of this article for the purpose of ordering said person, firm, entity or corporation: 1. To restrain, correct or remove the violation or refrain from any further violation of this article; 2. To restrain or correct the erection, installation, maintenance, repair or alteration or any structure, dwelling or dwelling unit; 3. To require the removal of any items found to be in violation; 4. To prevent the occupation or use of any structure, dwelling or dwelling unit which is not in compliance with the provisions of this article; or 5. For such other actions as may be necessary and proper for full enforcement of this article. E. All remedies shall be cumulative, and the use of one or more remedies by the city shall not bar the use of any other remedy. (Ord. 2003-O-75, 12-16-2003; amd. Ord. 07-O-4, 2-6-2007)
Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-19 establishes a multi-layered penalty framework for violations of the city's rental property safety article. Violators may face fines set by the city's general penalty code, and any outstanding fees remain owed regardless of whether a criminal conviction has occurred or a fine has been paid. The city may pursue enforcement through the courts — seeking injunctions, corrections, or removal of violations — and all available remedies can be used simultaneously rather than as alternatives to one another.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 10-2C-19, property owners and managers operating in Highwood should understand that compliance with the rental property safety article is treated as an ongoing obligation: paying a fine does not extinguish any unpaid fees, and a conviction does not eliminate the duty to pay fees already owed. Compliant operators generally keep rental units and structures in continuous conformance with the article's requirements, maintain current fee payments, and respond promptly to any notices from the code official or enforcement officers. Because the city's remedies are cumulative, a single violation can trigger fines, fee collection actions, and court-ordered corrective measures all at once.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants in Highwood, § 10-2C-19 signals that the city has broad authority to enforce rental property safety standards against landlords, including seeking court orders to restrain violations, require corrections, or prevent occupancy of non-compliant units. If a tenant believes a landlord is violating the rental property safety article, general enforcement paths include filing a complaint with the city's code official or enforcement office, which can then refer the matter to the city attorney or city council. Tenants may also wish to consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand how the city's enforcement mechanisms and cumulative remedies under this provision might relate to their housing 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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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