Thornton, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-11 § 7-11-1

[ 11-20-2017 [1] ] The following definitions shall apply in the interpretation and enforcement of this chapter: APARTMENT A dwelling unit having both bathroom and kitchen facilities. APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY That person within the governmental structure of the corporate unit who is charged with the administration of the appropriate code. APPROVED Approved by the local or state authority having such administrative authority. ATTIC Any story situated wholly or partly within the roof, and so designed, arranged or built as to be used for business, storage, or habitation. BASEMENT A portion of a building located partly or wholly above grade and having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height above the average grade of the adjoining ground. BUILDING A fixed structure with walls, foundation and roof, such as a house, factory, garage, etc. CELLAR A portion of a building located partly or wholly below grade and having half or more than half of its clear floor-to-ceiling height below the average grade of the adjoining ground. CERTIFICATE OF COMPLIANCE A document issued by the Village after inspections performed either pursuant to this Title or other provisions of the ordinances of the Village, showing that the premises conform to the ordinances of the Village. COMMERCIAL BUILDING Any building or premises use to conduct a business or manufacture or to store goods or merchandise. DILAPIDATED No longer adequate for the purpose or use for which it was originally intended. DWELLING Any enclosed space wholly or partly used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking and eating, provided that temporary housing, as hereinafter defined, shall not be classified as a dwelling. DWELLING UNIT A room or group of rooms, located within a dwelling, forming a single habitable unit with facilities used or intended to be used by a single family for living, sleeping, cooking and eating purposes, including one- and two-family rental units and multiple-family dwelling units. ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY That person or persons assigned to administer enforcement of this chapter or the referenced codes by the Mayor of the Village of Thornton. FAMILY One or more individuals occupying a single dwelling unit; provided that, unless all members are related by blood, marriage, legal adoption or are foster children, no such family shall contain over three persons; and not more than two guests or roomers, whether gratuitous or nongratuitous, may be housed. The term "family," as regards the number of persons residing within a dwelling unit, shall be further regulated by the necessary minimum requirements of the Zoning Ordinance [2] of the Village of Thornton and the adopted codes herein referenced. GRADE The finished ground level adjacent to a required window. HABITABLE ROOM A room or enclosed floor space used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes, excluding bathrooms, water closet compartments, laundries, furnace rooms, pantries, kitchenettes and utility rooms with less than 50 square feet of floor space, foyers or communicating corridors, stairways, closets, storage spaces and workshops, hobby and recreation areas or other areas that clearly cannot be used or intended to be used for living, sleeping, cooking, or eating purposes. HOUSEHOLD One or more individuals living together in a single dwelling unit and sharing common living, sleeping, cooking and eating facilities. (See also "family.") HOUSING INSPECTOR The person who is acting as an inspector for the enforcement of this chapter of the Village of Thornton or a Fire Department employee assigned as a fire inspector by the Fire Chief, and any other persons assigned code enforcement inspection duties by their supervisors. MULTIPLE-FAMILY DWELLING Any dwelling containing more than two dwelling units, including lodging houses. OCCUPANT Any individual, over one year of age, living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in, or having possession of, a dwelling unit or a rooming unit; except that in dwelling units, a guest shall not be considered an occupant. OPERATOR Any person who has charge, care, control, or management of a building, or part thereof, in which dwelling units or rooming units are let or offered for rent or other consideration. OWNER A. Any person who, alone or jointly or severally with others: 1. Shall have legal title to any premises, dwelling or dwelling unit, with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; and 2. Shall have charge, care, or control of any premises, dwelling or dwelling unit, as owner or agent of the owner, or an executor, administrator, manager, trustee, or guardian of the estate of the owner. B. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall be found to comply with the provisions of this chapter, and of rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto, to the same extent as if he were the owner. PERMISSIBLE OCCUPANCY The maximum number of individuals permitted to reside in a dwelling unit, rooming unit or dormitory. PERSON Includes any individual, firm, corporation, association, and partnership, cooperative or governmental agency. PREMISES A platted lot or part thereof or unplatted lot or parcel of land or plot of land, either occupied or unoccupied by any dwelling or nondwelling structure, and includes any such building, accessory structure or other structure thereon. PUBLIC NUISANCE Includes the following: A. The physical condition or use of any premises regarded as a public nuisance at common law. B. Any physical condition, use or occupancy of any premises or its appurtenances considered an attractive nuisance to children, including, but not limited to, abandoned dwelling units, basements, excavations, and unsafe fences or structures, abandoned vehicles, unsecured and unattended swimming pools, appliances, furniture or other such items. C. Any premises which have unsanitary sewerage or plumbing facilities. D. Any premises designated as unsafe for human habitation or use. E. Any premises which are manifestly capable of being a fire hazard or are manifestly unsafe or unsecured as to endanger life, limb or property. F. Any premises from which the plumbing, heating and/or facilities required by Village adopted codes have been removed, or from which utilities have been disconnected, destroyed, removed or rendered ineffective, or the required precautions against trespassers have not been provided. G. Any premises which are unsanitary, or which are littered with rubbish or garbage, or which have an uncontrolled growth of weeds. RENTAL Any structure owned by another and occupied or used, for a fee or without a fee, by: A. Any person unrelated to the owner (as defined in Subsection A1 of the definition of "owner" in this section) by blood, marriage or legal adoption; or B. Any copartnership, firm, or corporation; or C. Any other entity. RESIDENTIAL RENTAL LICENSE YEAR The residential rental license year shall be from May 1 to April 30 of the following year. ROOMING UNIT Any room or group of rooms forming a single habitable unit used or intended to be used for living and sleeping, but not for cooking purposes. SHORT-TERM A period of time of a short duration, such as a visitor visiting for a week, but not to exceed 30 days. TENANT A person, persons, copartnership, firm, corporation or other entity occupying or using a building premises or any part or parts thereof owned by another, for a fee or without a fee. [1] Editor’s Note: This ordinance also provided for the repeal of former Ch. 7-11, Maintenance and Occupancy of Commercial Building and Residential Rental Units, adopted 10-17-2005, as amended. [2] Editor's Note: See Title 11, Zoning.