Highwood ARTICLE C. RENTAL PROPERTY SAFETY § 10-2C-8
EFFECT OF CERTIFICATE; NONTRANSFERABILITY
Operative Text
A. Once a certificate of compliance is issued, it shall be valid and continued until the sooner of the any of the following occurs: 1. There is a change of occupancy of the residential dwelling unit covered by the certificate of compliance. 2. The residential improvements to the property covered by the certificate of compliance are damaged or destroyed to the extent that the residential unit is uninhabitable as determined by the code official. 3. The certificate of compliance is lawfully revoked or suspended. 4. Expiration of one year from the issuance of said certificate of compliance. B. Provided however, nothing in this section shall prohibit or prevent the city from requesting the owner or tenant in possession for a voluntary inspection of the property covered by the certificate of compliance if the city believes that a violation of the city's ordinance has taken place or is taking place upon the property. Provided further, nothing in this section shall be construed to prevent the city from seeking a lawful administrative search warrant at any time circumstances exist which would support the issuance of such a warrant. C. If a certificate of compliance is revoked or is no longer valid (as provided herein), a renewal certificate of compliance shall be obtained using the same procedure and application fee as are required for an original certificate of compliance. D. Once issued, a certificate of compliance or a temporary certificate of compliance cannot be transferred or assigned to another residential dwelling unit or to a successor owner acquiring the property. (Ord. 2003-O-75, 12-16-2003; amd. Ord. 07-O-4, 2-6-2007)
Under Highwood § 10-2C-8, a certificate of compliance for a residential dwelling unit remains valid only until one of four triggering events occurs: a change of occupancy, the unit becoming uninhabitable due to damage or destruction, lawful revocation or suspension of the certificate, or the passage of one year from issuance—whichever comes first. The certificate is tied to a specific unit and a specific owner, meaning it cannot be transferred to a different unit or carried over to a new owner who acquires the property. Even while a certificate is active, the city retains the authority to request voluntary inspections or seek an administrative search warrant if a code violation is suspected.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Highwood § 10-2C-8 generally keep close track of each certificate's one-year expiration date and treat any change of occupancy as a trigger requiring a renewal certificate before the next tenancy begins. Because a certificate cannot be transferred to a successor owner or a different unit, operators who sell a property or reassign a tenant to another unit typically initiate the full application process—including the required fee—as if applying for an original certificate. Compliant operators also remain prepared to accommodate a voluntary city inspection request or respond appropriately if the city pursues an administrative search warrant, even during a valid certificate period.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Highwood § 10-2C-8, tenants have an interest in knowing whether a valid certificate of compliance covers their specific dwelling unit, since the certificate expires after one year or upon a change of occupancy, whichever is sooner. If a certificate has been revoked, has expired, or was never renewed after a prior tenant moved out, that may represent a code compliance issue worth raising with the city or a local tenant-rights organization. Tenants should also be aware that the city may request a voluntary inspection of the property or seek a search warrant if it believes a violation is occurring, which means the certificate's existence does not foreclose city oversight of the unit's condition.
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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