Renters Rights under the Municipal Code of Chicago

 

 The Municipal Code of Chicago gives residential renters

 powerful rights.  Here are selections from the Code that govern

 condo, apartment, and house rentals in the City of Chicago. 

 

 

 

 

TITLE 5: Housing & Economic Development

 

     CHAPTER 5-8 - CHICAGO FAIR HOUSING REGULATIONS

     CHAPTER 5-12 - RESIDENTIAL LANDLORDS AND TENANTS
     CHAPTER 5-16 - DISCLOSURE OF HEATING COSTS TO TENANTS

     CHAPTER 5-20 - WINTER GAS SERVICE TERMINATION

 

TITLE 13: Buildings & Construction

 

     CHAPTER 13-4 - DEFINITIONS
     CHAPTER 13-10 - REGISTRATION OF MULTIPLE DWELLINGS

     CHAPTER 13-56 - CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS BY OCCUPANCY

     CHAPTER 13-164 - SECURITY DEVICES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

     CHAPTER 13-196 - EXISTING BUILDINGS – MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS

 

 

 

 

RENTERS' RESOURCES

Chicago City Council

Tell your alderperson you vote for the RLTO

Chicago Building-Related Court Search

Search for code enforcement action taken against a building

Chicago Zoning Map

Find your building's legal address and PIN

Cook County Court Case Search

Search your building address or landlord for circuit court cases

Chicago Security Deposit Lawyer

Attorney Mark A. Silverman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 13-56 - CLASSIFICATION OF BUILDINGS BY OCCUPANCY

13-56-020     Class A, residential units.

13-56-030     Class A-1, single-family dwelling.

13-56-040     Class A-2, multiple dwellings.

                    * * *

13-56-020  Class A, residential units.

     Buildings, or parts thereof, designed or used for one or more family units or designed or used for sleeping accommodations other than family units except institutional units as defined in Section 13-56-050, shall be classified as Class A, residential units.

(Prior code § 48-2)

13-56-030  Class A-1, single-family dwelling.

     A “one-family dwelling” is a building containing one dwelling unit only or one group home only or an intermediate care facility for the developmentally disabled – 15 or less only. A “family” consists of one or more persons each related to the other by blood (or adoption), together with such blood relations  respective spouses, who are living together in a single dwelling and maintaining a common household. A “family” includes any domestic servants and not more than one gratuitous guest residing with said “family”. A “family” also consists of the residents of a family home. An otherwise qualifying building does not lose its status as a Class A-1, single-family dwelling because a bed-and- breakfast establishment is operated in the building if (1) the bed-and-breakfast establishment has operated continuously in the building as of January 16, 2003; and (2) the operator of the bed-and-breakfast establishment files an application for a bed-and-breakfast establishment license no later than the effective date of this amendatory ordinance; provided, however, that a Class A-1, single-family dwelling containing a bed-and- breakfast establishment will lose its status as a Class A-1, single-family dwelling if the building or the bed- and-breakfast establishment is altered, expanded, enlarged or newly constructed after the effective date of this amendatory ordinance.

(Prior code § 48-2.1; Amend Coun. J. 12-21-84, p. 12140; Amended during Supplement No. 2, 4-91; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-03, p. 7118, § 4)

13-56-040  Class A-2, multiple dwellings.

     Residential units designed or used for two or more family units or designed or used for sleeping accommodations, other than family units, for more than ten persons shall be classified as Class A-2, multiple dwellings. Class A-2, multiple dwellings shall include, among others, the following:

     Apartment buildings

     Bed-and-breakfast establishments (regardless of capacity)

     Boardinghouses

     Clubs

     Convents

     Dormitories

     Fraternities

     Group homes

     Hotels

     Housing for elderly persons

     Lodging houses

     Monasteries

     Motels

     Roominghouses

     Single-room occupancy buildings

     Temporary overnight shelters (regardless of capacity)

     Transitional shelters (regardless of capacity)

(Prior code § 48-2.2; Amend Coun. J. 12-22-83, p. 4214; Amend Coun. J. 10-15-87, p. 4811; Amend Coun. J. 4-12-91, p. 32345; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-03, p. 7118, § 5)

 

This website is not legal advice, and makes no guarantee of providing an accurate or up-to-date version

of  the Code sections set forth herein.   The City Council can amend the code at any time without notice.