Rock Island ARTICLE VI. RENTAL PROPERTIES § 4-45
Inspection Access
Operative Text
All rental properties licensed under this article shall be subject to inspection by the City upon reasonable notice to the property owner or their designee. The property owner and/or their property manager shall be present in person for all inspections having been given reasonable notice. Failure to be present shall constitute missing an inspection. Missing an inspection three or more times in a twelve-month period may be used by the Building Official as justification for license revocation. If any property owner, manager, tenant, occupant, or other person in control of the rental unit fails or refuses to consent to free access and entry to the property by the City, the City may apply to the circuit court for an appropriate order authorizing such access. Refusal by a property owner or their designee to provide access to a property may be used by the Building Official as justification for license revocation. (Ord. 76-2025, 8-11-2025)
Rock Island Municipal Code § 4-45 establishes that all licensed rental properties in the city are subject to City inspections, which must be conducted with reasonable advance notice to the property owner or their designee. Both the property owner and property manager are required to be physically present during these inspections. If access is denied or consent is refused, the City may seek a court order to compel entry, and repeated failures to appear or refusals to grant access can serve as grounds for the Building Official to revoke the property's rental license.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Rock Island § 4-45, compliant rental property operators ensure they or their designated representative are physically present at every City inspection after receiving reasonable notice. Operators who miss inspections three or more times within a twelve-month period expose their rental license to potential revocation by the Building Official, as do those who refuse the City access to the property. Maintaining clear communication with the City and keeping contact information current are practices generally associated with staying in compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Rock Island § 4-45 applies primarily to property owners and managers, but it also notes that tenants, occupants, or others in control of a rental unit may not refuse the City free access and entry for inspections. If a tenant believes an inspection is being conducted improperly or that their rights are being affected by a landlord's failure to maintain a valid rental license, tenant-rights organizations or local legal aid resources can help explain available options. Tenants may also contact the City of Rock Island's building department to understand how the inspection process under § 4-45 affects their specific rental unit.
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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