Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-9
WAIVER OF INSPECTIONS
Operative Text
If the owner of a residential rental property is issued a certificate of compliance for a period of two (2) consecutive years by reason of successful annual inspections and renewals, then renewal inspections shall be required only every other year after the third year, and shall continue thereafter on a biennial basis. If at any time the property fails its biennial inspection, the property shall revert to an annual inspection schedule for another three (3) year period. The term "fails" shall be determined by the code official, where he finds less than ninety percent (90%) compliance with all applicable city codes in any single unit. (Ord. 2003-O-75, 12-16-2003; amd. Ord. 07-O-4, 2-6-2007)
Under Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-9, residential rental properties that earn a certificate of compliance for two consecutive years through successful annual inspections become eligible for biennial (every-other-year) renewal inspections starting in the third year. However, if a property fails a biennial inspection — meaning the code official finds less than 90% compliance with applicable city codes in any single unit — the property reverts to an annual inspection schedule for a new three-year period before it can qualify for biennial status again. This provision creates a tiered inspection system that rewards consistent compliance with reduced inspection frequency.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Highwood § 10-2C-9 who maintain consistent compliance can reduce their inspection burden from annual to biennial after achieving two consecutive years of successful inspections and certificates of compliance. Compliant operators typically keep all units at or above the 90% code-compliance threshold, since a single underperforming unit can trigger a failure determination by the code official and reset the property to an annual inspection cycle for three years. Maintaining thorough records of each inspection cycle and certificate issuance helps operators track where they stand in the compliance timeline established by § 10-2C-9.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Highwood § 10-2C-9 establishes that rental properties must meet at least 90% compliance with all applicable city codes in every unit to avoid a failed inspection — a standard determined by the local code official. Tenants living in a property that has reverted to annual inspections due to a failed biennial inspection may find it useful to understand that this reversion signals a prior compliance shortfall. Tenants who believe their unit has code deficiencies may consider contacting Highwood's code enforcement office, reviewing their rights with a local tenant-rights organization, or raising any documented violations as part of a broader inquiry under § 10-2C-9.
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.
Effective Timeline
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