Woodstock Title 4 Ch. 13 Performance-Based Property Management Program § 4.13.13
NO RETALIATION
Operative Text
No rental unit owner shall evict, threaten to evict, or take any other punitive action against any tenant by reason of good faith contact made by such tenant to the City for any reason including, but not limited to, those related to code enforcement matters. This section shall not prohibit the eviction of tenants from a rental unit for unlawful conduct of a tenant or invitee, or violation of any rules, regulations, or lease terms other than any lease term containing a prohibition or limitation against contacting the City for any reason including, but not limited to, those related to code enforcement matters. (Ord. 22-O-46, 9-6-2022)
Woodstock Title 4 Ch. 13 § 4.13.13 prohibits rental unit owners from evicting, threatening to evict, or otherwise retaliating against a tenant because that tenant contacted the City in good faith — including for code enforcement concerns. The rule carves out an exception: owners are not barred from pursuing eviction when a tenant has engaged in unlawful conduct, violated lease terms, or broken rules, as long as those lease terms do not themselves restrict a tenant's right to contact the City. Any lease clause that tries to prevent or limit a tenant from reaching out to the City is unenforceable as a basis for eviction under this provision.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators subject to Woodstock Title 4 Ch. 13 § 4.13.13 generally ensure that no eviction notice, rent increase, or other adverse action is timed or motivated by a tenant's decision to contact the City, including for code enforcement purposes. Compliant property managers review lease agreements to confirm they contain no clauses that restrict or penalize tenants for communicating with City officials, as such clauses cannot lawfully support an eviction. When a legitimate eviction is warranted — for example, due to a tenant's unlawful conduct or genuine lease violations unrelated to City contact — documentation clearly establishing that independent basis is typically part of sound recordkeeping practice.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Woodstock Title 4 Ch. 13 § 4.13.13, tenants have the right to contact the City — including its code enforcement offices — without fear of eviction or other punitive action from their landlord as a result. If a tenant believes an eviction or threat is connected to good-faith City contact, that connection may be raised as a defense in eviction proceedings or brought to the attention of the City of Woodstock. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local ordinances can help tenants understand how this anti-retaliation protection applies to their circumstances.
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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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