Markham CHAPTER 121: RENTAL PROPERTIES § 121.07
OCCUPANCY AND LICENSURE
Operative Text
(A) No dwelling unit may be occupied by other than the owner and owner's family without having been licensed and inspected. The provisions of this chapter shall apply for licensing and annual inspections of any rental unit within the city. (B) Occupancy limits shall be determined by the applicable city codes. (C) No person, corporation or business entity of any kind or nature whatsoever shall engage in the business of renting any dwelling unit to the public, or operating a rental dwelling or dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit, unless a valid and current residential rental license has been issued by the Building and Housing Department for the specific location. (D) No person shall rent or occupy a dwelling unit or rent or occupy any rooming house unit unless a current valid license has been issued for that specific location. (E) No license shall be issued or renewed unless the owner or operator agrees in the application to such inspections as may be required pursuant to this chapter. (F) This licensing requirement shall not apply to: (1) Group homes governed by the Specialized Living Centers Act, 405 ILCS 25/1 et seq., dealing with the developmentally disabled, or other similar uses governed by state or federal laws, rules or regulations. (2) Licensed professionals acting as brokers or agents, unless licensed professionals are owners or managers of property subject to this chapter. (Ord. 17-O-2162, passed 1-18-2017; Ord. 24-O-2388, passed 5-15-2024) Penalty, see § 121.99
Section 121.07 of Markham's Chapter 121 establishes that no rental dwelling unit may be occupied by non-owners unless it has been licensed and inspected by the Building and Housing Department. Both landlords and tenants are prohibited from renting or occupying a unit without a current, valid residential rental license issued for that specific address. Occupancy limits are set by applicable city codes, and license issuance or renewal requires the owner or operator to agree to inspections as required under the chapter. Certain group homes governed by state or federal law and licensed brokers or agents acting solely in that capacity are exempt from this requirement.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 121.07, compliant rental property operators in Markham obtain and maintain a current residential rental license from the Building and Housing Department for each specific rental location before allowing any non-owner occupancy. Operators also agree, as part of the application process, to permit inspections required under Chapter 121, and they renew their licenses on an annual basis. Keeping records of each license and its associated inspection history for every rental address is a practice consistent with the requirements of this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 121.07 provides that a dwelling unit should not be rented or occupied without a current, valid license issued for that specific location — a protection that applies to tenants as well as landlords. Tenants can verify whether a unit holds a valid residential rental license by contacting Markham's Building and Housing Department, which administers licensing under this chapter. If a unit appears to be unlicensed, tenants may consider reaching out to the Building and Housing Department to report the concern or consulting a local tenant-rights organization for guidance on available options.
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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