Peru — Ch. 22 Art. III Rental Residential Property § 22-78
Registration required
Operative Text
(a) It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to operate, maintain or offer to rent within the city a rental residential property, whether vacant or not, without first registering said rental residential property as provided in this article. (b) It is unlawful for a person to occupy a rental residential property, or for any owner or property agent to allow anyone to occupy a rental residential property, which is not registered as provided in this article. (c) This article shall not apply to the following structures: (1) Single-family owner-occupied dwellings; (2) Single-family dwellings which are vacant but which are not intended to be let for rent; (3) Townhouse and condominium owner-occupied dwellings; (4) Hotels, motels, and bed and breakfast establishments and short-term rentals operating in accordance with an approved special use; (5) Nursing homes, retirement centers and rest homes, provided that such structures used as nursing homes, retirement centers and/or rest homes are specifically licensed as nursing homes, retirement centers and/or rest homes, and also inspected by the State of Illinois as a nursing home, retirement center and/or rest home; (6) Dwellings, buildings, structures and uses owned by other governmental agencies and public housing authorities; and (7) Multiple-family rental residential property in which each dwelling unit is occupied by a record owner of the property. (d) A rental residential property registration cannot be transferred to succeeding owner.
Peru, Illinois Chapter 22, Article III, § 22-78 establishes that any rental residential property within the city must be registered before it is operated, maintained, offered for rent, or occupied. The rule applies to both vacant and occupied rental units, and it prohibits owners, property agents, and tenants alike from participating in an unregistered rental arrangement. Certain property types are exempt, including owner-occupied single-family homes and condominiums, qualifying hotels and short-term rentals, licensed nursing homes and retirement centers, government-owned dwellings, and multi-family properties where every unit is owner-occupied. Registration is tied to the owner and cannot be passed along when a property changes hands.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Peru § 22-78, compliant rental property operators register each qualifying rental residential property with the city before listing, renting, or allowing occupancy — even if the unit is currently vacant. Because registration does not transfer to a new owner, operators who acquire rental property generally initiate a fresh registration in their own name before tenants move in or continue occupying the unit. Keeping registration current and understanding which property types fall under the exemptions listed in § 22-78(c) are practices commonly associated with lawful operation under this article.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 22-78 of Peru's municipal code makes it unlawful for a tenant to occupy a rental residential property that has not been properly registered, meaning the registration status of a unit can be a relevant factor in a tenant's housing situation. Tenants who have questions about whether their unit is registered may contact the City of Peru directly to inquire about compliance under this article. Tenant-rights organizations can also help renters understand how § 22-78 registration requirements may intersect with other rights and remedies available under local or state law.
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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