Godfrey — Ch. 18 Art. VII Property Maintenance Code § 18-184
Temporary and interim occupancy permit
Operative Text
(a) The owner of a residential property may apply for a temporary occupancy permit for the purposes of remodeling, rebuilding or repairing the structure prior to occupancy so that utilities may be supplied in order to perform the work. No person shall reside in the structure unless and until a permanent occupancy permit is obtained. (b) For rental properties, landlords and property owners may obtain an interim permit to maintain utility service, if necessary, between periods of tenancy when no one resides in a structure. The interim occupancy permit may be issued for 90 days, with the building zoning administrator being allowed for good cause shown to continue the interim occupancy permit for one additional 90-day period. (c) This section shall apply to any transfers of dwelling or dwelling units taking place after the effective date of this section with the exception of those transfers under contract for sale on or before the effective date of this section.
Section 18-184 of Godfrey's Property Maintenance Code establishes two limited-use permits for residential properties. A temporary occupancy permit allows utilities to be connected during remodeling, rebuilding, or repair work before a structure is ready for permanent occupancy, but no one may actually live in the structure under this permit. For rental properties, an interim occupancy permit allows utility service to continue between tenancies for up to 90 days, with a possible one-time 90-day extension granted by the building zoning administrator for good cause.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-184, compliant residential property owners and landlords generally apply for the appropriate permit type based on their situation — a temporary occupancy permit when utilities are needed during construction or repair before a unit is occupied, or an interim occupancy permit to maintain utilities between tenants. Operators managing rental turnovers should be aware that the interim permit has a firm 90-day window, and any extension beyond that requires demonstrating good cause to the building zoning administrator. Keeping documentation of the timeline and reasons for any extended vacancy supports a well-managed permit process under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 18-184 makes clear that no person is permitted to reside in a structure that holds only a temporary occupancy permit — only a permanent occupancy permit authorizes lawful residential occupancy. Tenants who believe they are being housed in a unit without a proper permanent occupancy permit may wish to contact the Godfrey building or zoning office to verify the permit status of their dwelling. Tenant-rights organizations can help individuals understand what remedies or defenses may be available when a unit's occupancy status is in question 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 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
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