North Chicago — Title 5 Ch. 14 Landlord Licensing § 5-14-5
CERTIFICATE:
Operative Text
A. The landlord license certificate of compliance for each residential rental property shall expire two (2) years from the date of issue or when the following occurs: 1. Title to the property covered under a landlord license is transferred or conveyed so that fifty (50) percent or more of the record ownership or beneficial interest therein has changed. 2. The residential rental property is damaged, by any means, beyond fifty (50) percent of its replacement value. 3. The landlord license certificate of compliance is lawfully revoked or suspended. 4. The residential rental property is altered, remodeled, maintained, or repaired without a proper permit for work issued by the City.
Under North Chicago Title 5 Ch. 14 Landlord Licensing § 5-14-5, a landlord license certificate of compliance for a residential rental property carries a standard two-year validity period. However, the certificate can expire or become void before that date under four specific circumstances: a significant ownership transfer (50% or more), substantial property damage exceeding half the replacement value, lawful revocation or suspension of the certificate, or unpermitted alterations, remodeling, maintenance, or repairs. When any of these triggering events occurs, the existing certificate is no longer valid regardless of how much time remains on the two-year term.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of residential rental properties in North Chicago should be aware that § 5-14-5 ties certificate validity not just to a calendar date but also to key property events. Compliant operators generally track ownership changes carefully, ensure that any sale or transfer affecting 50% or more of ownership is followed by a fresh licensing review, and obtain proper City-issued permits before undertaking any alterations, repairs, remodeling, or maintenance work. Keeping documentation of permit approvals and monitoring the two-year renewal cycle are practices commonly associated with maintaining continuous compliance under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under North Chicago Title 5 Ch. 14 Landlord Licensing § 5-14-5, tenants have an interest in knowing whether their landlord holds a currently valid certificate of compliance, since that certificate can lapse due to ownership changes, significant property damage, revocation, or unpermitted work. If a tenant believes a landlord is operating without a valid certificate, they may consider contacting the City of North Chicago to inquire about the property's licensing status or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance. Awareness of these expiration triggers can be relevant context when evaluating the condition and legal standing of a rental property.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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