Midlothian CHAPTER 19 RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING § 4-19-4
ACCESS FOR INSPECTION
Operative Text
Upon presentation of proper credentials, village authorized representatives may enter at reasonable times, after giving notice to the landlord of any building, structure, or land within the village, to perform the duties imposed by this chapter. Reasonable notice for required scheduled inspections shall be defined as a minimum of ten (10) calendar days' advance written notice. It shall be the responsibility of the landlord to notify the tenant(s) of inspection appointments, arrange access with the tenant(s) and provide access to all units. In the absence of the building landlord or landlord's agent, an adult at least eighteen (18) years of age must be present during the inspection. (A) Revocation Of Registration: Units not made accessible for inspection by the landlord (or otherwise not inspected) in accordance with this chapter, shall be in violation of this chapter and shall not be licensed/registered or shall have the registration revoked. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this chapter, a tenant or occupant must be present and must consent to the inspection. If the tenant or occupant is not present or does not consent to the inspection, then the inspection shall not be conducted. (B) Residential Rental Property Complaints: In the case of a complaint of a potentially life or health threatening condition(s) or a property maintenance violation from any source, the village may promptly inspect or investigate without prior notice, except that notice of such inspection or investigation shall be provided to the landlord or agent as soon as reasonably possible. (C) Inspection Areas: Residential rental housing inspections will include a physical inspection of the property including the interior of all rental units, building exterior, exterior structures such as garages and storage areas, common areas, basements/cellars, laundry areas, electrical, plumbing and storage areas, as deemed appropriate by the inspector/code enforcement official with the exception of personal items. (D) Denial Of Access: Except in the case of an emergency, if a tenant or property owner denies an inspector access to a rental property, the building superintendent or his/her designee shall apply to the circuit court for the issuance of an administrative search warrant for inspections under this chapter. (E) Required Inspections: Systematic residential rental housing inspections will be conducted biennially (every 2 years, residential rental housing having an even house number shall be inspected in even calendar years and residential rental housing having an odd house number shall be inspected in odd calendar years). The village will conduct inspections based upon complaints when received and when an inspection is determined to be necessary. (Ord. 1722, 5-12-2010; amd. Ord. 1727, 6-9-2010; Ord. 2086, 11-10-2021)
Midlothian CHAPTER 19 RESIDENTIAL RENTAL HOUSING § 4-19-4 establishes the rules governing when and how village representatives may enter residential rental properties for inspection. Scheduled inspections occur on a biennial cycle, require at least ten calendar days' written notice to the landlord, and can only proceed inside a unit if the tenant is present and consents. In cases involving potential life- or health-threatening conditions or property maintenance complaints, the village may inspect without prior notice, though landlords must be notified as soon as reasonably possible. If access is denied outside of an emergency, the village must obtain an administrative search warrant from a circuit court before proceeding.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 4-19-4, compliant landlords in Midlothian generally ensure their properties are accessible for the village's biennial inspection cycle—even-numbered addresses in even years, odd-numbered in odd years. Upon receiving the required ten-day written notice from the village, landlords are responsible for notifying tenants of the scheduled inspection, coordinating access with them, and ensuring an adult aged 18 or older is present if the landlord or their agent cannot attend. Landlords whose units are not made accessible for inspection risk having their rental registration revoked or denied under this section, so maintaining clear communication with tenants about inspection appointments is a standard part of compliant property management.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 4-19-4, tenants hold a meaningful right: a village inspector cannot enter a rental unit without the tenant being present and giving consent, regardless of the landlord's cooperation. Tenants who have concerns about life- or health-threatening conditions or property maintenance violations may prompt a complaint-based inspection, which the village can conduct without the standard advance notice to the landlord. Tenants who want to understand how these inspection rights interact with their lease or who believe an inspection was conducted improperly may find it useful to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the full text of Midlothian CHAPTER 19 for additional context.
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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