Justice Ch. 8 Art. XII Annual Inspection for Residential Apartment Units (§§8-501–8-516) § 8-504
Rental Agreements
Operative Text
(a) Terms And Conditions: (1) The landlord and tenant may include in a rental agreement terms and conditions not prohibited by this article and other rules of law, including rent, term of the agreement and other provisions governing the rights and obligations of the parties. (2) All rental agreements between landlords and tenants must be in writing, dated and signed by both parties with signed copies provided to both at the time of signing. (3) Rent is to be payable without demand or notice at the time and place agreed upon by the parties. Unless otherwise agreed, rent is payable at the landlord’s place of business at the beginning of any term of one (1) month or less and otherwise in equal monthly installments at the beginning of each month. Unless otherwise agreed, rent shall be uniformly apportionable from day to day. (4) Unless the rental agreement fixes a definite term, the tenancy shall be week to week in the case of a tenant who pays weekly rent, and in all other cases month to month. (5) The lease shall inform the tenant that the interior of the unit may be subject to regular inspection and/or investigation by the village of complaints of violations for compliance with village codes to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of the residents and the public. (b) Effect Of Unsigned Or Undelivered Agreement: (1) If the landlord does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement to the tenant which has been signed and delivered by the tenant to the landlord, acceptance of rent without reservation by the landlord gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the landlord, for the term set forth in the rental agreement. (2) If the tenant does not sign and deliver a written rental agreement to the landlord which has been signed and delivered by the landlord to the tenant, acceptance of possession and payment of rent without reservation gives the rental agreement the same effect as if it had been signed and delivered by the tenant. (c) Prohibited Provisions: Except as otherwise provided by this article, no rental agreement may provide that the tenant or the landlord agrees to waive or to forego rights or remedies under this article. (d) Attachment Of Article To Rental Agreement: Following the effective date of this article, a copy thereof, or excerpts thereof in a form provided to the landlord by the village, shall be attached to each rental agreement, along with a copy of the village’s occupancy requirements from the village’s property maintenance code, delivered by or on behalf of a landlord when any such agreement is presented for signing to any tenant. (Ord. 98-10, § 1, 3-9-1998; Ord. 2016-20, § 1, 5-23-2016)
Justice Ch. 8 Art. XII § 8-504 establishes the foundational rules governing rental agreements for residential apartment units in the Village of Justice. Every rental agreement must be written, dated, and signed by both parties, with each side receiving a signed copy at the time of signing; oral agreements are not sufficient. The provision also sets default rules for rent payment timing, tenancy duration when no fixed term is stated, and prohibits either party from waiving rights granted under the article. Additionally, a copy of the article (or village-approved excerpts) and the village's occupancy requirements must be attached to every rental agreement before it is presented for signing.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 8-504, compliant landlords in Justice ensure that every residential rental agreement is prepared in writing, dated, signed by both parties, and that signed copies are handed to both the landlord and tenant at the moment of signing. The lease must notify tenants that the unit interior may be subject to village inspection for code compliance, and a copy of the article (or approved excerpts) along with the village's occupancy requirements from the property maintenance code must be physically attached to the agreement before it is presented for signature. Landlords should also be aware that accepting rent without reservation—even when a written agreement was not formally signed and returned—can legally bind them to the terms of that agreement under § 8-504(b).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 8-504 gives tenants in Justice the right to receive a written, signed, and dated rental agreement with their own signed copy at the time of signing, and the right to have a copy of the article's provisions and the village's occupancy requirements attached to that agreement. If a landlord accepts rent without reservation despite not having formally signed or returned the agreement, the agreement may still be considered legally effective under § 8-504(b), which can be relevant if a dispute arises about the tenancy's terms. Tenants who believe their landlord has not complied with these requirements may consider contacting the Village of Justice directly, consulting a local tenant-rights organization, or raising the violation as a defense in any relevant legal proceeding.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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