Bellwood CHAPTER 124: LICENSING OF MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS FOR RENT § 124.22
MINIMUM STANDARDS FOR LIGHT, VENTILATION, AND INSECT CONTROL
Operative Text
(A) No person shall occupy as owner-occupant or let to another for occupancy any multiple-family building, single-family dwelling unit for rent, or dwelling unit, for the purpose of living therein, which does not comply with the minimum requirements for light and ventilation as set forth in the building provisions of this code, applicable. (B) Every public hall, stairway and passageway in every multiple-family building containing four or more dwelling units shall be adequately lighted at all times. Every public hall, stairway and passageway in structures devoted solely to a multiple-family building containing less than four dwelling units shall be supplied with an adequate lighting system and conveniently located light switches, in order to turn on such system as light is needed. (C) During that portion of each year when the Comptroller deems is necessary for protection against mosquitoes, flies and other insects, every door opening directly from a dwelling unit to outdoor space shall have screens with spring or other self-closing devices, and every window or other device with openings to outdoor space, used or intended to be used for ventilation, shall likewise be supplied with screens. (Ord. 03-43, passed 8-20-03; Am. Ord. 03-59, passed 11-12-03)
Bellwood § 124.22 establishes three baseline requirements for residential rental properties and owner-occupied multi-family buildings: dwelling units must meet the local code's minimum light and ventilation standards; public halls, stairways, and passageways must be adequately lit at all times (or equipped with a switchable lighting system in smaller buildings); and during periods designated by the Comptroller, exterior-facing doors and windows used for ventilation must be fitted with self-closing insect screens. These rules apply to multiple-family buildings and single-family dwelling units offered for rent. The provision is designed to ensure basic habitability conditions related to light, air quality, and pest prevention.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rental properties subject to Bellwood § 124.22 generally ensure that all dwelling units are brought into compliance with the local building code's light and ventilation requirements before occupancy. For common areas, compliant operators maintain continuous adequate lighting in buildings with four or more units, and install switchable lighting systems with conveniently located switches in smaller multi-family structures. During any insect-control period declared by the Comptroller under § 124.22(C), property managers typically verify that all exterior doors and ventilation windows in each unit are equipped with properly functioning, self-closing insect screens.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Bellwood § 124.22, tenants have a right to occupy units that meet minimum light and ventilation standards, to have adequately lit common areas, and to have self-closing insect screens on exterior doors and ventilation windows during Comptroller-designated pest-control periods. If any of these conditions are not met, tenants may document the deficiency and consider raising it as a habitability concern with the appropriate Bellwood municipal authority or code enforcement office. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Bellwood's licensing ordinance can help residents understand the range of options available when a landlord does not maintain these minimum standards.
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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