Taylorville CHAPTER 6 RENTAL PROPERTY § 9-6-5
SAFETY AND SANITATION REQUIREMENTS
Operative Text
No person shall occupy, as owner-occupant, or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following requirements: A. Every foundation, floor, wall, ceiling and roof shall be reasonably weathertight, watertight and rodentproof, shall be capable of affording privacy and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. B. Every window, exterior door and basement hatchway shall be reasonably weathertight and rodentproof and shall be kept in sound working condition and good repair. C. Every inside and outside stair, every porch and every appurtenance thereto shall be so constructed as to be safe to use and capable of supporting the load that normal use may cause to be placed thereon and shall be kept in sound condition and good repair. D. Every plumbing fixture and water and waste pipe shall be properly installed and maintained in good sanitary working condition, free from defects, leaks and obstructions. E. Every water closet compartment floor surface and bathroom floor surface shall be constructed and maintained so as to be reasonably impervious to water and so as to permit such floor to be easily kept in a clean and sanitary condition. F. Every supplied facility, piece of equipment or utility which is required under this Chapter shall be so constructed or installed that it will function safely and effectively and shall be maintained in satisfactory working condition. G. No owner shall occupy or let to any other occupant any vacant dwelling unit unless it is clean, sanitary and fit for human occupancy. (1979 Code Ch. 18, Art. VIII, §7)
Taylorville CHAPTER 6 RENTAL PROPERTY § 9-6-5 establishes a baseline set of physical and sanitary conditions that every dwelling or dwelling unit must meet before anyone — whether an owner-occupant or a tenant — may legally live there. The rule covers structural elements such as foundations, walls, roofs, windows, and stairs, as well as plumbing fixtures, bathroom surfaces, and any facility or utility required under the Chapter. Vacant units must be clean, sanitary, and fit for human occupancy before they can be re-occupied or re-let.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 9-6-5, compliant property operators generally maintain all structural components — foundations, floors, walls, ceilings, roofs, windows, exterior doors, and stairways — in sound, weathertight, and rodentproof condition at all times. They also ensure that plumbing fixtures, water and waste pipes, bathroom floor surfaces, and any Chapter-required equipment are properly installed, free of defects or leaks, and in satisfactory working order. Before placing a vacant unit back on the market or allowing occupancy, operators typically verify that the unit meets the clean, sanitary, and fit-for-occupancy standard set out in § 9-6-5(G).
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
§ 9-6-5 gives tenants a basis to expect that their dwelling meets specific structural and sanitary standards — including weathertight walls and roofs, safe stairs, functioning plumbing, and properly maintained facilities — from the moment they move in and throughout their tenancy. If conditions fall short of these requirements, tenants may document the deficiencies in writing and notify the landlord, and may also have the option of reporting concerns to the local code enforcement or housing authority in Taylorville. Consulting a tenant-rights organization can help residents understand which enforcement paths are available under § 9-6-5 for their particular circumstances.
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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