Cook County, IL Building Safety: Door Locking Hardware (2026)
Key Facts
- Rule
- Internal deadbolt required on exit doors
- Openable
- Must open from inside without a key
- Fine
- $500-$1,000 per offense, per day
- Scope
- Unincorporated County plus opt-in municipalities
- Citation
- Cook County Code § 102-11(d)
Summary
Cook County's Vacant Building Ordinance requires every exit door on a registered vacant building to have an internal deadbolt lock, openable from inside without a key, in unincorporated areas and participating municipalities.
Every exit door shall be secured with an internal deadbolt lock, or with a locking mechanism deemed equivalent or better by the appropriate enforcing authority and every such exit door shall be capable of being opened from the inside easily and without the use of a key or special knowledge;
Full Breakdown
Sec. 102-11(d) of the Cook County Building Code sets interior maintenance standards for vacant buildings: every exit door must be secured with an internal deadbolt lock, or an equivalent-or-better locking mechanism approved by the enforcing authority, and must open from the inside without a key or special knowledge. The rule applies to vacant buildings in unincorporated Cook County and in municipalities that have signed an intergovernmental agreement adopting the Vacant Building Ordinance under Sec. 102-3. The Department of Building and Zoning, or the participating municipality's authorized enforcer, inspects for compliance once an owner registers the building as vacant.
Violations & Fines
Violating any provision of the Vacant Building Ordinance, including the exit-door lock requirement, draws a fine of $500 to $1,000 per offense, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense (Sec. 102-15).
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this rule apply to occupied homes in Cook County?
Does this bind Chicago?
What counts as an equivalent locking mechanism?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cook County
Compare Cook County to another location·View the Illinois building safety overview
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