Willow Springs — Art. 9A Rooming Houses § 4-9A-2
LICENSING PROVISIONS; APPLICATION
Operative Text
Required: It shall be unlawful for any person to conduct, keep, manage or operate or cause to be conducted, kept, managed or operated, a rooming house without a license therefor. Application for such license shall be made as provided in Chapter 1 of this Title. Fee: The fee for such license issued hereunder shall be as provided in Chapter 1 of this Title. No rooming house shall provide for more than the number of persons permitted by the Zoning Regulations of the Village as amended and as may be amended from time to time. Department Approval: Upon receipt of such application, it shall be the duty of the Village Clerk to submit the application to the Building Commissioner, to the Chief of the Fire Department, and to the Health Officer, who each authorizes the proper inspection, and no such license shall be issued by the Clerk until he has received the written approval from each of the officials. Building Department: The Building Department shall determine that all the requirements of the Building Code, the Zoning Regulations, the Plumbing Code and the Electrical Code of the Village are complied with and that the premises are safe and habitable and are provided with adequate facilities for heat, light and ventilation. Fire Department: The Chief of the Fire Department shall determine that all fire hazards have been eliminated from the premises; that the premises have proper and sufficient fire extinguishing equipment; that the premises comply with all regulations and recommendations of the Bureau of Fire Prevention; and that the occupants of the building have adequate fire protection. Health Department: The Health Officer shall determine that all regulations and orders of the Illinois Department of Health, the Department of Health of the Village and the provisions of this Article pertaining to the sanitation of the rooming house premises and every part thereof and to the preservation of the health of the occupants thereof have been complied with. It shall be the duty of the Health Officer to have printed such portions of this Article as he may deem requisite, and cause the same to be displayed in each room of any such rooming house, and have made such inspections as are necessary from time to time assuring the proper healthful occupancy of such establishments.
Section 4-9A-2 of Willow Springs' Article 9A establishes that operating a rooming house without a valid license is unlawful. Before a license can be issued, the Village Clerk must collect written approvals from the Building Commissioner, the Fire Department Chief, and the Health Officer, each of whom conducts their own inspection to verify compliance with building, fire, and health standards. The number of occupants in any licensed rooming house is also capped by the Village's Zoning Regulations, and the Health Officer is responsible for posting relevant portions of this Article in each room.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 4-9A-2, operators of rooming houses in Willow Springs are expected to obtain a license before opening or continuing operations, applying through the process outlined in Chapter 1 of the relevant Title. A compliant operator ensures the property passes separate inspections by the Building Department (covering building, zoning, plumbing, and electrical codes), the Fire Department (covering hazards, equipment, and fire prevention regulations), and the Health Officer (covering sanitation and health standards). Operators also keep occupancy within the limits set by the Village's Zoning Regulations and cooperate with periodic Health Department inspections and any required room postings.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 4-9A-2 means that any rooming house in Willow Springs is legally required to hold a current license, which can only be issued after the building has been inspected and approved for safety, fire protection, and sanitation. Tenants have a right to occupy premises that have met these baseline standards, and the Health Officer is required to post relevant health provisions directly in each room. If a rooming house appears to be operating without a license or in violation of building, fire, or health standards, residents may consider contacting the Village Clerk's office, the Building Department, the Fire Department, or the Health Officer, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for 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 8, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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