Countryside Title 8 Ch. 14 Residential Rental Housing § 8-14-1-8-3

Violations of this Code and fines shall be as stated in this Chapter or as specified in the Administration Section 1-4 of the City Code, if no fine is stated in this Chapter.


A. Time Limit for Removal: When a licensing inspection of a Rental Residential Property reveals any violations of applicable codes, a compliance time frame will be set by the inspector/code official. In establishing a compliance time frame, the inspector/code official shall determine the reasonable minimal time necessary to correct the violations based upon the number and severity of the violations. The City shall send notice to the property owner or the listed property agent by regular U.S. mail at the last address provided on the most recent license application. Said notice shall include the following:


1. Description of the property sufficient for identification.


2. A statement listing the violations of applicable codes.


3. The date upon which the licensing re-inspection will occur.


4. An explanation that if upon completion of the licensing re-inspection, the requirements of applicable City codes have not been met, it will be recommended to the Building Commissioner that the license be suspended or revoked.


B. Immediate Action: Notice of violations involving imminent danger to the life, safety, health, welfare and/or property of the landlord and/or tenants may be made by any means reasonably calculated to provide actual notice, which shall include but not be limited to personal delivery, registered or certified mail, or posting of an appropriate notice on the premises.


C. Occupancy Denial: In the case of imminent danger or fire hazard, structural failure or danger of imminent collapse, interruptions or failures in plumbing, heating, electrical systems, or other hazardous health situations, the City may order immediate repair or correction and may order the premises vacated pending such repair or correction.


D. Citation Issuance: If at the conclusion of the period established for corrective action, the violation has not, in the City’s reasonable judgment, been satisfactorily corrected, then the City may issue citations in accordance with provisions of this Code, suspend or revoke the license for the affected unit or units, and have the rental unit vacated. Citations for local municipal violations are adjudicated through the City of Countryside Administrative Adjudication of Municipal Code Violations (Title 1 Chapter 12).


1. Units vacated under this subsection shall be posted with signs indicating that the unit has been determined to be “Illegal”, or if applicable “Unfit for Habitation”’ and that occupancy is prohibited until the rental unit has been inspected to verify that the violation has been corrected.


2. Any person who defaces or removes a posted sign as described in 4a above without the approval of the City shall be in violation of this Code.


E. Time Limit to Vacate a Building or Unit: If notification has been presented to the landlord that the property is not properly licensed or that the license has been suspended or revoked, the rental property or properties shall be vacated within sixty (60) days of notification by the City of Countryside.


1. If said property is not vacated within the sixty (60) day period, the landlord will be responsible for all fines as set forth in this Code. Citations will be issued with a mandatory court appearance.


2. Notification will be either personally delivered or mailed to the land-lord or property agent as listed on the most recent registration application. This notice to the tenants and occupants will be posted:


a. You are hereby notified that the license for this structure has been revoked or the owner has failed to license this residential rental property pursuant to Title 8 Chapter 14 of the City of Countryside Code.


b. You must vacate this structure within sixty (60) days of the date of this notice.


c. If you fail to vacate this structure, you will be in violation of this above referenced Code and subject to penalties and fines with a minimum of $250.00 and a maximum of $1,000 for each day you are found to be in violation with a mandatory court appearance.


F. Hearing/ Right of Appeal:


1. Whenever a property owner gets notice of a permit denial, suspension or threatened revocation and required vacating of a license issued under this Chapter, the licensee shall have the right to request a hearing. The request shall be made within seven (7) days of receipt of the notice. The request shall be made by certified or registered mail, overnight courier or hand delivery to the Community Development Department.


2. Whenever a request for a hearing is made, the Mayor shall call a hearing by the procedures in Title 3 Chapter 1-10 of this Code.


G. Unfit Properties: The City may prohibit persons from entering or occupying, except for repair related activity, any Rental Unit, building or structure, including utility and out buildings, found to be unfit, found not to comply with City codes or ordinances, or that poses dangerous, unsafe, or unhealthy conditions for the building’s occupants, passers-by, or the general public. Unfit properties shall be posted with appropriate language that does not permit occupancy. Any person, not the owner, who enters, occupies, uses or any person, including the owner, who permits others to enter, occupy or use the structure after such a posting shall be charged with trespassing. (Chapter 4-2-5-5 ) Each day the Rental Unit building or structure is entered, occupied or used following such a posting shall be considered a separate offense. (Ord. 21-36-O, 9-22-2021; amd. Ord. 25-29-O, 10-22-2025)