Highland Park pauses enforcement of new rental registrations for some properties while council weighs family‑exemption

Highland Park building and community development officials said on June 25 that the city has paused active enforcement of parts of its rental registration ordinance for properties that are not currently registered while the City Council considers whether to adopt a family‑exemption.

The officials said properties registered before the moratorium remain subject to inspections and that the city is issuing certificates of compliance when inspections are completed. At the same time, they urged renters who have safety or maintenance concerns to file complaints so the city can investigate under the property maintenance code, which remains enforceable.

“I don’t get to make up my own rules,” Gerald Rice, speaking for the building department, said on the Highland Park Spotlight show. He explained that the existing ordinance, as written, treated properties owned but not occupied by the owner as non‑owner occupied and thus subject to rental registration. Rice said council has asked staff to reexamine the ordinance and that a family‑exemption is under consideration.

Rice described the current operational approach: the rental registration requirement is presently not enforced for properties that are not already registered, but those that already registered are moving through inspection and certification. For any rental‑related housing complaint, Rice said staff can and will investigate under the property maintenance code even if rental‑ordinance inspections are temporarily paused for some properties.

The building official, Don Jones, emphasized how registration and inspections protect renters by ensuring minimum habitability standards are met. Rice said the department has been sending inspection reports and enforcement letters and will coordinate re‑inspections when owners provide contact information or corrective plans. He also said staff will make reasonable accommodations (for example, extra time) in some individual circumstances when property owners or residents demonstrate a plan for correction.

City staff described other clarifications made on the program: if council adopts a family‑exemption, the city may still require annual registration paperwork for family‑owned properties that are not owner‑occupied, but staff indicated such an exemption could be structured without inspection or a fee while preserving the city’s ability to act on tenant maintenance complaints.

The officials urged residents with questions about registration, property status after an owner’s death, or active complaints to contact the Highland Park building department; staff said public information such as permit status and owner records will be provided on request. They also said the city will begin a door‑to‑door newsletter distribution on July 1 to reach residents who do not use email, with the Highland Park Fire Department assisting in delivery.

Ending: Officials encouraged residents to file complaints and stay in touch with the building department while council considers changes to the rental ordinance.