Residential Rental Property

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Residential Rental Property Overview

On December 2, 2019, the South Chicago Heights Village Board passed a Crime Free Housing Program Ordinance. The program was first developed in Mesa, Arizona in 1992 to assist tenants, owners and managers of rental properties in keeping drugs and other criminal activity away from their rental properties. If you place your property on the rental list for the first time, you must complete an inspection, attend the seminar and apply for the license correct all code violations before a Certificate of Compliance is issued.   

Certificate of Compliance Rental Application (PDF)
Rental Compliance Checklist (PDF)
Crime Free Housing Ordinance (PDF)

How it Works

The Crime Free Housing Program is a unique two-phase certification program for rental properties of all sizes, including single family rental homes.  The first phase is the completion of a seminar taught by police and building personnel. The program is designed to be easily implemented, yet extremely effective at reducing criminal activity in rental properties. 

Seminar Required

The Crime Free Housing Program seminar addresses these topics:  

  • Understanding Crime Prevention
  • C.P.T.E.D. Concepts (Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design)
  • Annual Inspection requirements
  • Community Rules
  • Combating Crime Problems
  • Dealing with Non-Compliance

Residential Rental License Required

On May 1, 2020, and thereafter, no person, corporation or business entity, condominium, townhouse or homeowners’ association shall engage in the business of renting any dwelling unit to the public, operating a rental dwelling or dwelling unit, rooming house or rooming unit, unless a valid Residential Rental License has been issued by the Village Clerk for the specific location.  A dwelling unit may not be rented and no new lease may be entered into and no lease may be rented until a license is secured pursuant to this section or while a license is suspended or revoked.

Crime Free Lease Addendum

The ordinance allows and explains the requirement to implement a Crime Free Lease Addendum (PDF) for rental properties as well as allows for screening potential tenants for a history of illegal behavior.

Annual Rental Inspections of Property

No owner, agent or person in charge of a one-family, two-family, multiple family dwelling unit or structure, or commercial/industrial structure shall allow any person to occupy the same as a tenant or lessee unless said unit or structure shall have been inspected once during each year in which the multiple-dwelling unit or structure was occupied and determined to be in compliance with all health and building laws and code of the village as evidenced by a Certificate of Compliance issued by the Building Director.

All landlords will be notified by mail prior to their required annual rental inspection due date.  The annual rental inspection program begins in April and ends in September. Ordinance 2021-15 Amending Chapter 14 as is Relates to Inspections