Oakbrook Terrace — Ch. 121 Rental Dwellings § 121.01
Definitions
Operative Text
For the purposes of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them as follows: DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT. The Director of Community and Economic Development of the City of Oakbrook Terrace or a designee duly authorized by the Director of Community and Economic Development. DWELLING. Any building or portion thereof that is designed and used exclusively for residential purposes, but not including a hotel, nursing home or other state-licensed facility. DWELLING, ATTACHED. A building which was originally designed and constructed to accommodate two or more single-family dwelling units, with each dwelling unit to have its own ground floor entrance and its own living space, and with the dwelling units to be joined together by a common wall or walls. DWELLING, DETACHED. A single-family dwelling unit that does not share a common wall with any other dwelling unit and is surrounded on all sides by open space that is located on the same lot. DWELLING, MULTIPLE-FAMILY. A building containing three or more dwelling units, with more than one of the dwelling units connecting to a common corridor or entranceway. DWELLING, SINGLE-FAMILY. A building designed for or occupied exclusively by one family. DWELLING UNIT. One or more rooms in a dwelling that are occupied or intended to be occupied as separate independent living quarters by a single family, with facilities for cooking, living, eating, sleeping and sanitary uses, including a detached dwelling, a single unit in an attached dwelling, or a single unit in a multiple-family dwelling. FAMILY. One or more persons related by blood, marriage, or adoption, occupying a dwelling unit as an individual housekeeping organization; provided that such a family may include not more than two persons who are not related by blood, marriage, adoption, or foster care as regulated by the state; and further provided that not more than three persons who are not related by blood, marriage or adoption may also be considered a family. MANAGING AGENT. Any person or firm, acting for another, with authority to rent, manage, or make expenditures related to a dwelling unit. OWNER. The record owner of any property in the city on which a rental dwelling is located. RENTAL DWELLING. Any dwelling unit which is not owner-occupied, and which is either rented or leased, or for which the owner is otherwise compensated by others, whether through a managing agent or in some other manner; provided that a dwelling in which a single room is rented or in which a dwelling unit is shared between the property owner and others shall not be deemed a rental dwelling; and further provided that, for purposes of this chapter only, a rental dwelling shall not include multiple-family dwellings in a building with more than seven dwelling units under single ownership and shall not include a short-term rental. SHORT-TERM RENTAL. A single-family dwelling, or a residential dwelling unit in a multi-unit structure, condominium, cooperative, timeshare or similar joint property ownership arrangement that is rented for a fee for less than 28 consecutive days. "Short-term rental" includes vacation rentals. "Short-term rental" does not include: (a) a dwelling that is used for any non-residential purpose, including educational, health care, retail, restaurant, banquet space, event center or other similar uses; (b) a bed and breakfast establishment as defined in Section 2 of the Bed and Breakfast Act; or (c) transient accommodations, including hotels and motels that are not classified as residential property for real property taxation purposes.
Section 121.01 of Oakbrook Terrace's Chapter 121 establishes the foundational vocabulary used throughout the city's rental dwelling regulations. It draws distinctions among dwelling types—detached, attached, single-family, and multiple-family—and defines who qualifies as an owner, managing agent, or family for regulatory purposes. Notably, the definition of 'rental dwelling' excludes owner-occupied units where only a single room is shared, buildings with more than seven dwelling units under single ownership, and short-term rentals of fewer than 28 consecutive days.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 121.01, property owners and managing agents should be aware that the chapter's requirements apply specifically to 'rental dwellings' as defined—meaning units that are not owner-occupied and are rented or leased for compensation. Buildings with more than seven dwelling units under single ownership and short-term rentals fall outside this definition and are therefore not subject to Chapter 121's requirements. Operators who manage attached or multiple-family dwellings will want to confirm that their properties meet the structural definitions in § 121.01 to understand which regulatory obligations apply to them.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 121.01 sets out the definitions that determine whether a rental unit is covered by Oakbrook Terrace's Chapter 121 protections. Tenants living in units that qualify as 'rental dwellings' under this section—generally non-owner-occupied units in buildings with seven or fewer dwelling units—may be entitled to the rights and protections the chapter provides. Those uncertain about whether their unit falls within the chapter's scope may find it helpful to review the full definitions in § 121.01 or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization for general guidance.
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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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