Palos Hills — Ch. 15.56 Residential Condominium Conversions § 15.56.040
Condominium requirements
Operative Text
All conversions into condominiums or new condominiums shall follow the regulations set forth in the Condominium Property Act of Illinois and shall comply with the following: A. No unit in any condominium converted after the effective date of this chapter may be sold or transferred unless a certificate of occupancy has been issued by the building commissioner stating that said condominium unit complies with the conversion element provisions of this chapter and other applicable zoning and building requirements of the city of Palos Hills. For that purpose, the applicant shall submit "as-built" drawings and site development certified by a registered architect. B. No certificate of occupancy shall be issued, no sale of a unit shall be made and no condominium plat approved where the requirements of any ordinance of the city of Palos Hills pertaining to zoning, building or subdivision is not being complied with for the property being converted. C. No building or land which is nonconforming (legal or illegal) as of the effective date of this chapter or granted a variation to any zoning, building or subdivision ordinance shall be converted into condominiums unless the current requirements of this chapter are met. D. All condominiums shall comply with the current regulations, including open space and parking requirements, for the land use for which the property is zoned. E. A fire sprinkler system shall be installed throughout the condominium building and within each condominium unit. The system shall be approved by the North Palos Fire Protection District prior to its installation and shall be designed to alert a 24 hour watch location in the event of an emergency. F. The building to be converted must be inspected for termite infestation and eradication must take place if necessary. A certificate of compliance with this subsection must be filed with the building department before a certificate of occupancy is issued. G. At the time "as-built" drawings are submitted for approval, a certificate shall also be presented to the building department issued by a licensed structural engineer certifying the building, including the foundation and roof, is safe and structurally sound. H. All mechanical systems including, but not limited to, heating, air conditioning, water heating and ventilating must be replaced unless they are inspected and certified by an expert in such systems that they are functioning, in good repair and can provide adequate service for the use intended by each system. I. The installation of clothes washers and dryers in each unit is prohibited unless said installation is in compliance with all applicable building code, prior to installation, that renovation of the units will include properly installed venting, gas and electricity which are necessary for the safe function of such appliances. J. Common garbage and trash disposal containers shall be provided in accordance with the city of Palos Hills regulations for multiple unit developments.
Palos Hills § 15.56.040 establishes a comprehensive set of baseline requirements that must be satisfied before any residential building can be converted into condominiums or before any new condominium units can be sold. Among other things, the rule ties the issuance of a certificate of occupancy to verified compliance with zoning, building, and subdivision codes, as well as specific physical standards covering fire sprinkler systems, structural soundness, termite inspection, mechanical systems, and parking. The provision also incorporates the Illinois Condominium Property Act as a governing framework, meaning state-level requirements layer on top of these local Palos Hills standards.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators and developers pursuing a condominium conversion in Palos Hills under § 15.56.040 generally ensure that as-built drawings certified by a registered architect and a structural engineer's certification covering the foundation and roof are submitted to the building department before seeking a certificate of occupancy. Compliant projects also address fire sprinkler installation approved by the North Palos Fire Protection District, a termite inspection with eradication if needed, and certification that all mechanical systems—heating, cooling, water heating, and ventilation—are functioning adequately or have been replaced. Parking, open space, and common trash disposal arrangements must also conform to city standards for multi-unit developments before any unit sale or plat approval can proceed.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Prospective buyers or current occupants of a unit undergoing conversion in Palos Hills should be aware that § 15.56.040 prohibits the sale or transfer of any converted condominium unit without a valid certificate of occupancy confirming compliance with the chapter's conversion requirements. This means a seller generally cannot complete a transfer unless fire suppression, structural, mechanical, and termite standards have all been formally verified and documented with the building department. Individuals who believe a conversion is proceeding without meeting these requirements may consider contacting the Palos Hills building department directly or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Illinois condominium conversion law 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 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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