Oak Forest CHAPTER 117: LODGING § 117.38
TERM OF LICENSE; TRANSFER PROHIBITED; RENEWAL
Operative Text
A residential rental license shall be issued for a period of one calendar year. All licenses shall expire on December 31 next after issuance, unless previously revoked. The license shall not be transferable. Each new owner of the rental dwelling unit must obtain a license. Application for renewal shall be made in the same manner as for a new license. (Ord. 2013-09-0461O, § 2 (part), passed 9-24-2013; Am. Ord. 2020-02-0785O, passed 2-25-2020)
Under Oak Forest CHAPTER 117: LODGING § 117.38, a residential rental license is valid for one calendar year and expires on December 31 following its issuance, unless it is revoked earlier. Licenses are non-transferable, meaning a change in property ownership does not carry the license forward to the new owner. Anyone who acquires a rental dwelling unit must obtain their own license, and renewals follow the same application process as a brand-new license.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Oak Forest § 117.38 requires that operators of residential rental properties hold a current license that runs through December 31 of each year. When a rental property changes hands, the incoming owner must apply for a new license rather than assuming the prior owner's license, since licenses cannot be transferred. Compliant operators typically track their license expiration date, submit renewal applications in the same form as an initial application, and ensure a valid license is in place before continuing to rent.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Oak Forest § 117.38 establishes that every residential rental unit should be covered by a valid, non-transferable license held by the current owner. If a property is sold, the new owner is required to obtain their own license before operating as a landlord. Tenants who have questions about whether their unit is properly licensed may contact the Oak Forest municipal offices to verify license status, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance on what options may be available.
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
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.