Mount Carmel — Ch. 12 Housing § 12-1

Definitions

In Force
Verified 11/10/2026 · Next check 12/10/2026
Mount CarmelHabitability & Repair

Operative Text

Mount Carmel — Ch. 12 Housing § 12-1
As used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
Apartment shall mean a self-contained unit with private bath and cooking facilities.
Basement shall mean a portion of a building located partly underground, but having less than half its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
Cellar shall mean a portion of a building located partly or wholly underground, and having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground.
Dwelling shall mean any building which is wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living or sleeping by human occupants; provided that temporary housing as hereinafter defined shall not be regarded as a dwelling.
Dwelling unit shall mean any room or group of rooms located within a dwelling and forming a single habitable unit with facilities which are used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating purposes.
Extermination shall mean the control and elimination of insects, rodents and other pests.
Garbage shall mean the vegetable and animal waste resulting from the handling, preparation, cooking and consumption of food.
Habitable room shall mean a room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking or eating purposes, including bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, pantries, foyers or communicating corridors, closets and storage spaces.
Infestation shall mean the presence, within or around a dwelling, of any insects, rodents or other pests.
Multiple dwelling shall mean any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units.
Occupant shall mean any person, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking or eating in, or having actual possession of, a dwelling unit or rooming unit.
Operator shall mean any person who has charge, care or control of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let.
Owner shall mean any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others, who shall:
(1) Have legal title to any dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
(2) Have charge, care or control of any dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or as executor, administrator, trustee or guardian of the estate of the owner.
Plumbing shall mean and include all of the following supplied facilities and equipment: Gas pipes, gas-burning equipment, water pipes, garbage disposal units, waste pipes, water closets, sinks, installed dishwashers, lavatories, bathtubs, shower baths, installed clothes washing machines, catch basins, drains, vents and any other similar supplied fixtures, together with all connections to water, sewer or gas lines.
Rooming house shall mean any building or portion of a building other than a hotel, motel, apartment hotel or residential hotel, in which sleeping accommodations not constituting an apartment are furnished at a fee for four or more persons ordinarily renting such accommodations at a specified rate for a specified time, and occupying the premises as a permanent place of abode rather than on a transient basis for a short term period of occupancy.
Rubbish shall mean combustible and noncombustible waste materials, except garbage, and the term shall include the residue from the burning of wood, coal, coke and other combustible material, paper, rags, cartons, boxes, wood, excelsior, rubber, leather, tree branches, yard trimmings, tin cans, metals, mineral matter, glass, crockery, etc.
Supplied shall mean paid for, furnished or provided by or under the control of, the owner, or operator.
Temporary housing shall mean any tent, trailer, or other structure used for human shelter which is designed to be transportable and which is not attached to the ground, to another structure, or to any utilities system on the same premises for more than 30 consecutive days.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Mount Carmel Ch. 12 Housing § 12-1 establishes the official vocabulary used throughout Chapter 12's housing regulations. Each defined term — such as "dwelling," "dwelling unit," "operator," "owner," and "infestation" — carries a specific legal meaning that governs how all other provisions in the chapter are interpreted and applied. For example, the definitions distinguish between a basement and a cellar based on how much of the structure sits below grade, and they exclude temporary housing from the definition of a dwelling. These distinctions can affect which rules apply to a given structure or living arrangement.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 9, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Property owners and operators subject to Mount Carmel Ch. 12 Housing § 12-1 should be familiar with how the chapter defines key terms, since those definitions shape the scope of compliance obligations throughout Chapter 12. For instance, the definition of "operator" covers anyone with charge, care, or control of a building where units are let — not just the titled owner — meaning management companies and agents may also carry responsibilities under the chapter. Understanding the distinction between terms like "dwelling unit" and "rooming unit," or "garbage" and "rubbish," helps operators apply the correct standards for maintenance, extermination, and habitability.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Tenants living in Mount Carmel can look to § 12-1 to understand how the housing code defines the spaces and roles that affect their rights under Chapter 12. The definitions of "dwelling unit," "occupant," "owner," and "operator" help clarify who bears responsibility for conditions like infestation or plumbing failures, since the chapter assigns duties based on these specific terms. Tenants who believe a landlord or operator is not meeting Chapter 12 obligations may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or the relevant municipal authority to understand how these definitions apply to their 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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

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References Out

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References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

IL Muni § 12-133
IL Muni § 12-66

Related Rules

§ 244.260
Compliance required
§ 14.567
ADOPTED BY REFERENCE
§ 244.340
Sewer and water connections

Source Information

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