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

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Attorney Mark A. Silverman

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 13-164 - SECURITY DEVICES IN RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS

13-164-010 Scope.

13-164-020 Definitions.

13-164-030 Dwelling unit entrance doors.

13-164-040 Building entrances.

13-164-050 Window locks.



13-164-010 Scope.


This chapter applies to and regulates all one-family dwellings as defined in Section 13-56-030, all multiple dwellings, and all buildings of mixed occupancy having any dwelling units; provided, however, that the following shall be excluded from the requirements of this chapter:

(a) Owner-occupied dwelling units;

(b) Housing accommodations in a hotel, motel, inn, bed-and-breakfast establishment, roominghouse or boardinghouse, hospital, convent, monastery, extended care facility, asylum, not-for-profit home for the aged, temporary overnight shelter, transitional shelter, or in a dormitory owned and operated by an elementary school, high school or institution of higher learning; and

(c) A dwelling unit in a cooperative occupied by the holder of a proprietary lease.

(Prior code § 78.5-1; Added Coun. J. 9-23-87, p. 4259; Amend Coun. J. 9-4-03, p. 7118, § 6)

13-164-020 Definitions.


Whenever used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:

(a) “Dwelling unit” shall mean the part of a building that is used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons who maintain a household.

(b) “Dwelling unit entrance” shall mean a door providing direct access to a dwelling unit.

(c) “Building entrance” shall mean an entrance providing access from outside the building or from an entry vestibule to an interior corridor, lobby or stairway which leads to individual dwelling unit entrances.

(d) “Deadbolt lock” shall mean a locking bolt with no automatic spring action which is held fast when in the projected position. For purposes of this chapter, a deadbolt lock may be of the tubular, rim-mounted, or vertical drop type.

(e) “Deadlocking latch” shall mean a latch in which the latch bolt is positively held in the projected position by a guard bolt, plunger or auxiliary mechanism.

(f) “Security collar” shall mean a metal ring or plate protecting the otherwise exposed portion of a cylinder lock from wrenching, prying, pulling or cutting by attack tools.

(g) “Cylinder lock” shall mean a locking device using tumblers to activate the releasing mechanism.

(h) “Latch” shall mean a device which automatically holds a door in a closed position by engaging a strike upon closing.

(i) “Viewing device” shall mean a device which allows a person inside a dwelling unit to view a person immediately outside the dwelling unit entrance without opening the door. For purposes of this chapter, a viewing device may be a peephole with a 160 degree peepsite, a window, or any other device which accomplishes the purpose of a viewing device without altering the fire-resistive rating of the door, walls or any other portion of the building.

(Prior code § 78.5-2; Added Coun. J. 9-23-87, p. 4259)

13-164-030 Dwelling unit entrance doors.


Every dwelling unit entrance door other than a sliding glass patio door shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock with at least a one-inch saw-resistant bolt projection, or with a rim-mounted deadbolt lock or vertical drop deadbolt lock providing equivalent security. Every such lock shall be operated from the outside by a key and from the inside by a turnpiece, handle or knob which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate. Every lock cylinder which projects beyond the face of the door or is otherwise accessible to gripping tools shall be equipped with a security collar and a guard plate designed to protect the cylinder from removal or drilling. Outside door hinges shall be equipped with nonremovable hinge pins or jam pins. Every dwelling unit entrance door shall be equipped with a viewing device. Every sliding glass patio door providing direct access to a dwelling unit and located within 20 feet of ground level or within ten feet of an adjacent roof or within ten feet of an exterior stairway, fire escape, ramp or porch accessible from ground level shall be equipped with a johnny bar or other device which securely locks the movable leaf in the closed position and which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate from the inside. Every such sliding glass patio door shall be so constructed that it will resist removal from its tracks when in the closed position.

(Prior code § 78.5-3; Added Coun. J. 9-23-87, p. 4259)

13-164-040 Building entrances.


Every building entrance shall be secured by a door equipped with a deadlocking latch with at least a one- half-inch latch bolt projection. The latch shall be operated from the outside by a key and from the inside by a device which does not require a key or any special knowledge to operate, such as a turnpiece, handle, knob, panic hardware or electric latch release system which can be overridden by doorknob release. If an entrance is so constructed that entry to the interior of the building is gained by passage through an enclosed vestibule, the requirements of this section shall be deemed to be met if either the outer door leading from the exterior to the vestibule or the inner door leading from the vestibule to the interior of the building is equipped with the type of latch prescribed herein. A double leaf door shall be deemed to meet the requirements of this section if the inactive leaf is equipped with flush bolts at head and foot and the active leaf is equipped with the type of latch prescribed herein. The requirements of this section shall not apply to a building entrance where an attendant is continuously on duty.

(Prior code § 78.5-4; Added Coun. J. 9-23-87, p. 4259)

13-164-050 Window locks.


Every window which is openable and which is located within 20 feet of ground level or within ten feet of an adjacent roof or within ten feet of an exterior stairway, fire escape, ramp or porch accessible from ground level shall be equipped with a lock which when in the locked position will prevent the window from being opened from outside the building. Every such window to a dwelling unit, other than a casement window or any other window which opens on hinges, shall also be provided with a device which will allow the window to be fixed in an open position of not less than four inches and not more than six inches, and which when in the locked position will prevent the window from being moved to a more open position from outside the building. Latching or locking devices on storm window sashes or screen frames shall not be deemed to meet the requirements of this section.

(Prior code § 78.5-5; Added Coun. J. 9-23-87, p. 4259)

 

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.