Spring Valley CHAPTER 11 RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PROPERTY § 3-11-4
LICENSE 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 obtaining a license as provided in this chapter. (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 licensed as provided in this chapter. (C) It is unlawful for any person, firm, partnership, corporation or other legal entity to offer for rent or to occupy any vacant dwelling unit or rooming unit or any dwelling unit or rooming unit that becomes vacant in a rental residential property for which a license is under suspension. (D) This chapter shall not apply to the following structures: 1. Single-family owner-occupied dwellings. 2. [Reserved]. 3. Single-family dwellings which are vacant but which are not intended to be let for rent. 4. Townhouse and condominium owner-occupied dwellings. 5. Hotels, motels and bed and breakfast inns. 6. Dwellings, buildings, structures and uses licensed and inspected by the State or the Federal government, including, but not limited to, nursing homes, retirement centers, rest homes, etc. 7. Dwellings, buildings, structures and uses owned by other governmental agencies and public housing authorities. 8. Multiple-family rental residential property in which each dwelling unit is occupied by a record owner of the property. 9. Dwellings subject to an Installment Sale Contract that complies with the Illinois Installment Sales Contract Act, 765 ILCS 67/1 et seq. (E) A license for a rental residential property cannot be transferred to another rental residential property nor a succeeding owner. (Ord. 1643, 10-10-2016; amd. Ord. 1842, 6-6-2022; Ord. 1881, 9-18-2023)
Spring Valley CHAPTER 11 § 3-11-4 establishes that operating, maintaining, renting, or occupying a residential rental property within the city is prohibited unless a valid license has been obtained under this chapter. The rule applies to both landlords and tenants, making unlicensed occupancy itself a violation. Certain property types are exempt, including owner-occupied single-family homes, condominiums, hotels, state- or federally-licensed facilities, and properties under qualifying installment sale contracts. Licenses are non-transferable between properties or new owners.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Spring Valley § 3-11-4, compliant rental property operators secure a license before offering any unit for rent or allowing occupancy, and they renew or reapply whenever ownership changes, since licenses cannot be transferred to a new owner or a different property. Operators also confirm that any property under a license suspension is kept vacant until the suspension is resolved. Reviewing the exemption list in § 3-11-4(D) helps determine whether a particular structure—such as an owner-occupied townhouse or a state-licensed facility—falls outside the chapter's requirements.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Spring Valley § 3-11-4 makes it unlawful for a tenant to occupy a rental unit that lacks the required city license, meaning tenants have an interest in confirming their unit is properly licensed before or during their tenancy. If a landlord is found to be operating without a license or under a suspended license, that status may be relevant to code-enforcement proceedings or other legal proceedings involving the property. Tenants who have questions about their unit's licensing status can contact the City of Spring Valley directly 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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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