O'Fallon CHAPTER 120: RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LICENSES § 120.12
EVICTION OR RETALIATION PROHIBITED
Operative Text
It shall be unlawful for an owner to terminate the lease agreement of a tenant or otherwise retaliate against any tenant because that tenant complained to an agent of the city about nuisance activities or violations of law on the owner’s premises. Nothing herein shall preclude an owner from evicting a tenant or taking other lawful action due to a violation of law or lease provision by the tenant. (Prior Code, § 120.12) (Ord. 3657, passed 3-1-2010; Ord. 3797, passed 5-6-2013; Ord. 4037, passed 5-7-2018) Penalty, see § 120.99
O'Fallon § 120.12 makes it unlawful for a residential rental property owner to terminate a lease or take other retaliatory action against a tenant because that tenant reported nuisance activity or legal violations on the property to a city agent. The rule does not, however, prevent an owner from pursuing eviction or other lawful remedies when a tenant has independently violated the law or a lease term. In short, the provision draws a clear line between protected complaint activity and unrelated tenant misconduct.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under O'Fallon § 120.12, compliant property owners are careful to ensure that any lease termination or adverse action taken against a tenant is grounded in documented lease violations or independent legal grounds — not in the tenant's history of reporting concerns to city officials. Operators generally maintain records that clearly establish the basis for any eviction or adverse action, so that the timing of a tenant's complaint to the city cannot be construed as the motivating factor. Owners who do take lawful action against a tenant for genuine lease or legal violations are not prohibited from doing so under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 120.12 of O'Fallon's residential rental licensing code gives tenants a protection against lease termination or other retaliation that is triggered by a complaint made to a city agent about nuisance activity or legal violations on the rental property. If a tenant believes an owner has taken adverse action in response to such a complaint, that tenant may have grounds to raise the retaliation prohibition as a defense in eviction proceedings or to file a complaint with the appropriate city authority; consulting a local tenant-rights organization can help clarify available options. Penalties for violations of this provision are referenced in § 120.99 of the same chapter.
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.
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