South Beloit — Ch. 18 Art. XIV Residential Rental Property Registry § 18-461
Definitions
Operative Text
The following words and terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them for the purposes of this article of the codified ordinances of the City of South Beloit, as follows: Landlord. The legal title holder of the premises, as shown by the records of the Winnebago County Recorder's office, which has one or more residential rental units on it. If the legal title holder is a land trust, however, the landlord shall mean the beneficial owner or owners of the land trust, or a trustee having legal authority to act on behalf of the land trust. Local agent. A person 18 years of age or older who resides in Winnebago County or within 30 miles of the location of the rental unit. The local agent shall be authorized by the landlord to receive notices of code violations and receive process in any court proceedings or administrative enforcement proceedings on behalf of the landlord in connection with the enforcement of this article or any of the codified ordinances of the City of South Beloit and any enforcement of state or federal laws or regulations. A local agent is a convenience for the landlord and is only for the purposes of receipt of notices and process. Nothing in this section shall transfer responsibility for compliance with this section to the local agent. In all circumstances the landlord shall remain responsible for any violations and any penalties imposed hereunder and may not transfer the responsibility for compliance to a tenant or party who does not have an ownership interest. Premises. A tract of land on which one or more rental units are located. Residential rental structure. Any apartment, rooming house, boarding house, dwelling, multi-use dwelling structure (excluding hotels, motels, assisted living facilities, residential care homes, and nursing homes, all as defined elsewhere in these codified ordinances)--and any mobile home--located within the corporate limits of the City of South Beloit that the owner thereof rents, either entirely or in part, to another person or persons for occupancy as a residence, regardless of the zoning of the property. If there is more than one unit within such structure, it shall be identified by the term residential rental unit. A property which is the subject of a land contract will be considered a residential rental structure unless conversion of the title has taken place as shown through the filing of such document in the Winnebago County Recorder's office and taxes are being assessed in the name of the purchaser. Notwithstanding the filing of a land contract in the Winnebago County Recorder's office and the assessment of taxes, a purported land contract shall be considered a rental if the transaction is in excess of 30 years. In lieu of providing proof as stated above, a land contract will not be considered a rental property if the seller provides evidence to the city that clearly establishes that the property is treated for tax purposes as interest income. Summons for administrative hearing. A report of violation and summons to appear before an administrative hearing officer, as defined in section 34-134 of the City of South Beloit Code of Ordinances. Tenant. The person, or person, occupying a residential rental unit who is not a legal title holder of the premises.
South Beloit Ch. 18 Art. XIV § 18-461 establishes the core definitions that govern the city's Residential Rental Property Registry program. Key terms—including 'landlord,' 'local agent,' 'premises,' 'residential rental structure,' and 'tenant'—are given specific meanings that apply throughout the article. Notably, a landlord's compliance obligations cannot be shifted to a local agent or tenant; the title holder (or beneficial owner of a land trust) retains full legal responsibility regardless of any arrangements made with other parties.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under South Beloit Ch. 18 Art. XIV § 18-461, the city identifies the 'landlord' as the person or entity holding legal title as recorded with the Winnebago County Recorder's office—or, for land trusts, the beneficial owner or an authorized trustee. Operators who appoint a local agent should understand that doing so is a convenience for receiving notices and legal process only; it does not transfer any compliance responsibility or liability for violations and penalties. Compliant operators generally ensure their ownership records with Winnebago County are current and that any local agent they designate meets the residency and age requirements spelled out in this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
South Beloit Ch. 18 Art. XIV § 18-461 defines a 'tenant' as any occupant of a residential rental unit who does not hold legal title to the property, which determines who is covered by the protections and obligations of the city's rental registry framework. The provision also makes clear that a landlord cannot transfer compliance responsibility to a tenant, meaning tenants are not held accountable for the landlord's registration or code-compliance duties under this article. Tenants who believe a landlord is improperly shifting regulatory burdens onto them may wish to review the full article, contact the City of South Beloit directly, or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information.
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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