Bellwood CHAPTER 124: LICENSING OF MULTI-FAMILY DWELLINGS AND SINGLE-FAMILY DWELLING UNITS FOR RENT § 124.28
ROOMING HOUSES
Operative Text
(A) No person shall operate a rooming house, or shall occupy or let to another for occupancy, any rooming unit in any rooming house or dwelling unit, unless in compliance with the provisions of this code. (B) At least one flush water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, property connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Comptroller and in good working condition, shall be supplied for each six persons, or fraction thereof, residing within a rooming house, including members of the operator's family whenever they share the use of such facilities; provided, that in a rooming house where rooms are let only to males, flush urinals may be substituted for not more than one-half the required number of water closets. All such facilities shall be so located within the dwelling as to be reasonable accessible from the common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times. No such facilities shall be located in a basement or cellar except with the written approval of the Comptroller. (C) The operator of every rooming house shall supply bed linens and towels which shall be changed at least once each week, and prior to the letting of any room to any new occupant. The operator shall be responsible for the maintenance of all supplied bedding in a clean and sanitary manner. (D) Every room occupied for sleeping purposes shall conform to the requirements of the building provisions of this code. (E) Every rooming unit shall have safe, unobstructed means of egress leading to safe and open space at ground level. (F) The operator of every rooming house shall be responsible for the sanitary maintenance of all walls, floors and ceilings and for the maintenance of a sanitary condition in every part of the rooming house. He or she shall be further responsible for the sanitary maintenance of the entire premises where the entire structure or building is leased or occupied by him or her. (G) Every provision of this chapter which applies to rooming houses shall also apply to hotels, except to the extent that any such provision may be found in conflict with the laws of the state. (H) Cooking in dormitory rooms and rooming units is prohibited. (I) Communal cooking and dining facilities in a rooming house are prohibited, except as approved by the Comptroller in writing. (J) Access doors to rooming units shall have operating locks to insure privacy. (K) Access to or egress from each rooming unit shall be provided without passing through any other rooming unit or dwelling unit. (Ord. 03-43, passed 8-20-03; Am. Ord. 03-59, passed 11-12-03)
Bellwood § 124.28 establishes comprehensive operating standards for rooming houses, covering sanitation, plumbing, bedding, egress, privacy, and cooking restrictions. The rule requires that adequate bathroom facilities be shared among no more than six residents, that bed linens and towels be changed weekly and between occupants, and that each rooming unit have its own lockable door and independent access. Cooking within individual rooming units or shared dormitory rooms is prohibited, and any communal cooking or dining facilities require written Comptroller approval.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of rooming houses subject to Bellwood § 124.28 generally maintain at least one toilet, lavatory, and bathtub or shower for every six residents, with all fixtures properly connected to approved water and sewer systems and supplied with hot water at all times. Compliant operators change bed linens and towels at least once per week and before each new occupant moves in, keep all walls, floors, ceilings, and common areas in a sanitary condition, and ensure each rooming unit has a functioning lock, independent access, and a clear means of egress. Any communal cooking or dining facilities, or bathroom facilities located in a basement or cellar, require prior written approval from the Comptroller under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Bellwood § 124.28, residents of rooming houses are entitled to sanitary bathroom facilities shared by no more than six people, hot water at all times, clean linens changed weekly and before move-in, a lockable door on their unit, and access to their room without passing through another occupant's space. If these conditions are not being met, tenants may consider documenting the deficiencies and reporting them to the appropriate Bellwood municipal authority responsible for enforcing Chapter 124. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with local housing codes can help residents understand the options available to them under this provision.
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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