Joliet — Ch. 8 Art. VII Property Maintenance Code § 8-350
Definitions
Operative Text
[As used in this division, the following words shall have the meaning ascribed thereto:] Operator. Any person who has charge, care, or control of a structure, or any part thereof, whether with or without knowledge and consent of the owner. Owner. Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, has legal or equitable title to any structure or has charge, care or control of any structure as executor administrator, trustee, receiver, guardian of the estate, mortgagee in possession, or beneficiary under a land trust. Person. Any individual, association, partnership, corporation, or other entity. Structure. That which is built or constructed, including but not limited to buildings for any occupancy or use.
Section 8-350 of Joliet's Property Maintenance Code establishes the foundational definitions used throughout Division VII, clarifying who and what falls under its rules. 'Operator' covers anyone exercising day-to-day control over a structure, regardless of whether the property owner is aware. 'Owner' extends beyond simple title holders to include fiduciaries and others with legal or equitable interest, while 'structure' is defined broadly to encompass virtually any built construction.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-350, both owners and operators of structures in Joliet can be held responsible for compliance with the Property Maintenance Code, meaning that property managers, management companies, and similar agents may bear obligations alongside the titled owner. Compliant operators typically maintain clear documentation of their management authority and ensure that responsibilities under the Code are explicitly addressed in any management agreements. Understanding that 'owner' under this section includes executors, trustees, and mortgagees in possession helps ensure that all parties with control over a property account for their potential obligations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 8-350 establishes who qualifies as an 'owner' or 'operator' under Joliet's Property Maintenance Code, which matters when a tenant needs to identify the responsible party for a maintenance or habitability concern. Because the definition of 'operator' includes anyone exercising control over a structure — not just the titled owner — tenants may have grounds to direct complaints to a property manager or management company as well as the owner of record. Tenants seeking to raise a violation under this division can consult local tenant-rights organizations or the City of Joliet's code enforcement office to understand available complaint pathways.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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