Peru — Ch. 22 Art. III Rental Residential Property § 22-77
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this article, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates and requires a different meaning. Words or phrases as used in this article and not herein defined shall be defined as provided by the zoning ordinance or building codes adopted by the City of Peru. Code official means the Director of Engineering and Zoning of the City of Peru or their designee. Dwelling means a building, or portion thereof, used exclusively for human habitation. Dwelling unit means one or more rooms containing individualized cooking, sleeping and sanitary facilities, which is designed, occupied or intended for use by one household. Multiple-family rental residential property means a rental residential property with two or more dwelling units. Occupant means a resident of rental residential property other than a tenant who occupies the rental residential property pursuant to the lease of the tenant with the owner. Owner means: (1) The record title holder of the premises as indicated by the LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds, whether the same be individual and/or individuals, corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trustee and/or other legal entity specifically indicated of record with the LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds; (2) Any owner of the entirety of and/or a portion of the beneficial interest in any Illinois Land Trust provided that any such owner of beneficial interest of the land trust provides the City of Peru with appropriate written evidence of the trust agreement and/or an amendment thereto that indicates the individual and/or entity is the owner of the beneficial interest in the land; and/or (3) A contract purchaser of real estate provided that a copy of the contract and/or a memorandum of the agreement disclosing the name of the contract purchaser and/or purchasers is filed with the Recorder of Deeds of LaSalle County. Property agent means A person, operator, firm, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity designated in writing by the property owner that is responsible for the management of a rental residential property, including the authority to receive notices or citations. Rental residential property means dwellings, dwelling units, rooming houses and rooming units let or intended to be let for rent or lease. Single-family rental residential property means rental residential property with one dwelling unit. Tenant means an adult lessee and/or adult occupant who is a resident of rental residential property other than a lessee who occupies the rental residential property pursuant to the lease of the lessee with the owner.
Section 22-77 of Peru's Rental Residential Property article establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 22, Article III. It defines key terms such as "dwelling unit," "owner," "tenant," "occupant," and "property agent" so that all parties, officials, and courts interpret the article's requirements consistently. The definitions also clarify who qualifies as an "owner" under three distinct scenarios, including record title holders, beneficial interest holders in Illinois Land Trusts, and contract purchasers, and specify that undefined terms default to the city's zoning ordinance or building codes.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 22-77, a property owner is broadly defined to include not just the record title holder on file with the LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds, but also beneficial interest holders in Illinois Land Trusts and contract purchasers who have filed the appropriate documentation. Compliant operators typically ensure their ownership status is properly documented with the LaSalle County Recorder of Deeds and, where applicable, provide the City of Peru with written evidence of any trust agreement. Operators who designate a property agent should do so in writing, as § 22-77 requires that designation to be formal and to include authority to receive notices or citations on the owner's behalf.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 22-77 defines "tenant" as an adult lessee or adult occupant residing at a rental residential property, and separately defines "occupant" as someone residing there under another tenant's lease — a distinction that can affect which rights and obligations apply to each resident under the broader article. Understanding how these definitions apply to a given living arrangement can be relevant when a dispute arises about who holds responsibilities or protections under Chapter 22, Article III. Tenants who have questions about how these definitions affect their situation may find it useful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full article alongside § 22-77.
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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