Wood Dale ARTICLE XVI RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY § 6.1603
Rules And Definitions
Operative Text
A. The language set forth in the text of this article shall be interpreted in accordance with the following rules of construction: 1. The singular number includes the plural number and the plural the singular. 2. The word "shall" is mandatory; the word "may" is permissive. 3. The masculine gender includes the feminine and neuter. B. Whenever, in this article the following words and phrases have been used, they shall, for the purposes of this article, have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this subsection, except when the context otherwise indicates: CODE OFFICIAL: The Community Development Director or his or her designee. CONDITIONAL REGISTRATION: A limited approval of the premises for a period of up to six (6) months when a property cannot fully comply with all the applicable requirements of the City of Wood Dale due to special circumstances (e.g., weather conditions, unavailability of required materials or services, or other circumstances approved by the Code Official). MULTIPLE-FAMIL Y RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY: Residential rental property with two (2) or more dwelling units. PREMISES: A lot, plot or parcel of land including the interior and exterior of any structures thereon. PROPERTY AGENT: A person, operator, firm, partnership, corporation, or other legal entity designated in writing by the property owner to the Code Official to manage a residential rental property including the authority to receive notices or citations. RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY: Residential structures or individually titled dwelling units let or intended to be let for rent or lease, including single-family detached structures, and structures being used for short-term rentals, being defined as any rental period of less than thirty (30) days, or being used for any other similar sharing of residential accommodations for gain or profit. TENANT: An occupant of residential rental property, regardless of the duration of such tenancy or whether there exists any written lease or similar documentation, including any individual(s) participating in a short-term rental, or any other similar sharing of residential accommodations for gain or profit. C. Words or phrases as used in this article and not defined in this section shall be defined as provided by the City of Wood Dale's current Property Maintenance Code, current Building Code, and current Unified Development Code. (Ord. O-07-001, 1-4-2007; amd. Ord. O-10-017, 10-21-2010; Ord. O-20-010, 4-16-2020; Ord. O-22-031, 11-17-2022)
Wood Dale ARTICLE XVI § 6.1603 establishes the interpretive rules and key definitions that govern the entire residential rental property article. It clarifies how language in the article is to be read — for example, that "shall" signals a mandatory requirement while "may" signals discretion — and assigns specific meanings to terms such as "Residential Rental Property," "Tenant," "Code Official," and "Conditional Registration." Notably, the definitions are broad enough to cover not only traditional long-term rentals but also short-term rentals of fewer than 30 days and similar accommodation-sharing arrangements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 6.1603, property owners and managers should be aware that the definitions in this section set the scope of who and what is regulated throughout Wood Dale's residential rental article. The term "Residential Rental Property" explicitly includes single-family homes and short-term rental arrangements, meaning operators of those property types are subject to the same article requirements as traditional landlords. Compliant operators typically designate a Property Agent in writing to the Code Official so that notices and citations have a clearly identified recipient.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 6.1603 defines "Tenant" broadly to include anyone occupying a residential rental property, regardless of whether a written lease exists and regardless of the length of stay — including participants in short-term rentals. This means the protections and obligations established elsewhere in Wood Dale's ARTICLE XVI can apply even without a formal rental agreement. Tenants who are uncertain whether they fall under the article's coverage may find it useful to review these definitions or consult a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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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