Elmwood Park, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 41B § 41B-4
License Required (Elmwood Park Rental Residential Property Ordinance)
Operative Text
[ Ord. No. 2011-14 , 6-6-2011 ; amended 7-12-2021 by Ord. No. 2021-45 ] (a) It shall be unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, association, corporation, or other legal entity to operate, maintain or offer to rent or rent within the Village any rental residential property, as defined in § 41B-3 herein, whether vacant or occupied, without first having obtained and maintained a current license, as provided in this chapter. (b) It shall be unlawful for any person to occupy a rental residential property, as defined in § 41B-3 herein, or for any owner to allow anyone to occupy a rental residential property, as defined in § 41B-3 herein, which is not currently licensed, as provided in this chapter. (c) This section shall not apply to the following structures: (1) Hotels, motels, and other structures which rent rooms to occupants if such occupancy is transient only; (2) Dwellings, buildings, structures and uses licensed and inspected by the state or federal government, including, but not limited to, nursing homes, retirement communities and rest homes; (3) Dwellings, buildings and structures used or owned by other governmental agencies and public housing authorities and otherwise inspected by them for compliance; and (4) Dwelling units in rental residential property, all of which are leased to or inhabited by family members of the property owner.
Section 41B-4 of the Elmwood Park Municipal Code makes it unlawful to operate, maintain, offer to rent, or rent any residential rental property in the Village without first obtaining and keeping a current license under Chapter 41B. Occupying an unlicensed rental unit is also prohibited, as is an owner allowing such occupancy. Certain properties are exempt, including hotels and motels with transient guests, state- or federally-licensed facilities such as nursing homes, government-owned or public-housing properties, and units rented exclusively to the owner's family members.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 41B-4 of the Elmwood Park Municipal Code, compliant rental property operators secure and maintain a current Village rental license before placing any unit on the market or allowing occupancy, whether the unit is vacant or occupied. Operators generally track license renewal deadlines to avoid a lapse, since even a temporarily unlicensed property can trigger a violation. Owners whose properties fall under one of the enumerated exemptions—such as units occupied solely by family members—typically document that status in case questions arise.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 41B-4 of the Elmwood Park Municipal Code establishes that tenants have a right to occupy only licensed rental units, and an owner is prohibited from allowing occupancy of an unlicensed property. If a tenant has reason to believe their unit lacks a current Village rental license, they may contact the Village of Elmwood Park directly to verify license status or file a concern. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Illinois municipal housing codes can help residents understand what remedies or defenses may be available in connection with an unlicensed rental.
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 8, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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