Northlake Title 8 Ch. 18 Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance § 8-18-3
DEFINITIONS
Operative Text
Whenever used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: DWELLING UNIT: A structure or part of a structure that is used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons who maintain a household together with the common areas and all housing services, privileges, furnishings and facilities supplied in connection with the use or occupancy thereof, including garage and parking facilities. LANDLORD: The owner, agent, lessor, sublessor or the successor in interest of any of them of a dwelling unit or the building of which it is part. OWNER: One or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to property or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises including a mortgagee in possession. PERSON: means an individual, corporation, government, governmental subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust, partnership or association or any other legal or commercial entity. PREMISES: means the dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part, facilities and appurtenances therein and grounds, areas and facilities held out for the use of tenants. RENT: All payments to be made to the landlord under the rental agreement. When it is used as a determination of damages and the tenant has a subsidized rent, such as a Housing Choice Voucher, "rent" shall mean the full market rent, not the tenant rent based on income. RENTAL AGREEMENT: A written or oral agreement and valid rules and regulations adopted under Section IV embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit and premises. TENANT: A person entitled by written or oral agreement, subtenancy approved by the landlord or by sufferance, to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others. WRITTEN NOTICE: Communications in writing shared as hand delivered typed or printed documents, mailed documents, or electronically mailed or messaged documents. OWNER-OCCUPIED: That the residential building or at least a portion or one unit thereof, condominium, or cooperative, is occupied by the owner of the residential building as his or her principal residence. (Ord. O-20-2020, 12-7-2020)
Section 8-18-3 of the Northlake Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout Chapter 18. Key terms such as "dwelling unit," "landlord," "tenant," "rent," and "rental agreement" are given specific legal meanings that govern how the rest of the chapter is interpreted and applied. Notably, when rent is used to calculate damages and a tenant holds a subsidized voucher, the ordinance defines "rent" as the full market rate rather than the tenant's income-based share. These definitions set the interpretive framework for all rights, obligations, and remedies described elsewhere in the chapter.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Northlake Title 8 Ch. 18 § 8-18-3 should be aware that the ordinance's definitions are broad: "landlord" encompasses not just owners but also agents, lessors, sublessors, and successors in interest. Compliant operators generally ensure that rental agreements — whether written or oral — align with the chapter's defined terms, and that any written notices meet the ordinance's definition, which includes hand-delivered, mailed, and electronically transmitted documents. Understanding that "rent" in a damages context means full market rent — even when a tenant pays a subsidized portion — is relevant to how financial obligations and potential liability are calculated under the chapter.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Northlake Title 8 Ch. 18 § 8-18-3, tenants are defined as persons entitled to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others, whether under a written or oral agreement or by landlord-approved subtenancy. The ordinance's definition of "premises" is expansive, covering not just the unit itself but also shared facilities, grounds, and appurtenances made available to tenants. Tenants who believe their rights under Chapter 18 have been affected may find it useful to review these definitions carefully, consult a local tenant-rights organization, or contact the Village of Northlake to understand how these terms apply to their situation.
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.
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