Justice Ch. 5 Art. IX Occupancy Standards (§§5-301–5-310) § 5-304
Tenant Obligations
Operative Text
The tenant shall: (1) Comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by provisions of the codes applicable to the dwelling unit; (2) Keep that part of the premises that he occupies and uses as safe as the condition of the premises permits; (3) Dispose from his dwelling unit all ashes, rubbish, garbage and other waste in a clean and safe manner; (4) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenants as clean as their condition permits; (5) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises; (6) Not deliberately or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so; and (7) Conduct himself and require other persons on the premises with his consent to conduct themselves in a manner that will not disturb his neighbor's peaceful enjoyment of the premises. (Ord. 97-2, § 4, 1-27-1997)
Justice Ch. 5 Art. IX § 5-304 establishes a set of baseline behavioral and maintenance obligations that apply to tenants occupying a dwelling unit. The provision requires tenants to keep their portion of the premises reasonably safe and clean, properly dispose of waste, maintain plumbing fixtures, and use building systems and appliances in a reasonable way. It also prohibits tenants from deliberately or negligently damaging the property and requires them to ensure that guests they invite onto the premises do not disturb neighbors' peaceful enjoyment.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-304, a compliant operator generally documents the condition of a unit at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline against which tenant-caused damage or neglect can be measured. Property managers familiar with this provision typically include its obligations by reference in lease agreements, so tenants are on clear notice of their duties regarding waste disposal, plumbing care, and reasonable use of building systems. When a tenant or their guest causes damage or creates a disturbance, records of the unit's prior condition and any written communications about the behavior are the kinds of documentation that tend to support enforcement of these standards.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 5-304 of Justice Ch. 5 Art. IX outlines the responsibilities tenants are expected to meet, including keeping their space safe, disposing of waste properly, and not damaging the property. Tenants should be aware that these obligations run alongside—not instead of—any rights they hold under other provisions of the code, and a landlord's failure to meet their own obligations does not automatically excuse a tenant's duties under this section. Tenants who have questions about how these standards apply to their situation may find it helpful to consult a local tenant-rights organization or review the full ordinance, which dates to Ord. 97-2 (January 27, 1997).
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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