Building Safety in Evanston, IL (2026)

Evanston City Code § 5-3-5-5

(A)Housing providers...must specifically:1.Provide all prospective and current lessees with a copy of the current, approved U.S. environmental protection agency federal pamphlet on lead based paint disclosure.2.Disclose any known lead hazards.(B)If the housing provider fails to comply...within seven (7) days after the tenant provides written notice of that failure, the tenant shall recover one ...

Evanston City Code § 7-2-5-9(A)

When additional stories are added to an existing building and such building is located near the street line, there shall be built over the sidewalk at the point where the new stories commence, a scaffold not less than six feet (6') wide, which shall form a covering over the sidewalk composed of a framework of stringers and supports, covered with two (2) layers of two inch (2") plank and a water...

Evanston City Code § 4-9-2 (2021 IRC § R313.2)

R313.2 One- and two-family dwellings automatic sprinkler systems. An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in one- and two-family dwellings. Exception: This exception has been revised to read as follows: An automatic sprinkler system shall not be required for additions or alterations to existing buildings that are not already provided with an automatic sprinkler system, provided t...

Evanston City Code § 5-1-3 (IPMC § 802.2)

Doors providing access to individual units shall be equipped with a deadbolt lock meeting specifications set forth herein. Such deadbolt locks shall be operated only by the turning of a knob or a key and shall have a lock throw of not less than 1-inch and hardened steel inserts or a surface/rim mounted vertical drop, dead bolt lock. Cylinder guards shall be installed on all rim-type vertical de...

Evanston City Code § 4-21-3

New construction and additions ten thousand (10,000) square feet or greater to City-owned or fully or partly City-financed buildings, and new construction and additions ten thousand (10,000) square feet or greater to all commercial and multifamily buildings, shall employ... the version of a rating system such as LEED, Green Globes, Living Building Challenge, Passive House, IgCC-Standard 189.1 o...

Evanston City Code § 9-15-3

Every dwelling unit shall be equipped with at least one approved carbon monoxide alarm in an operating condition within fifteen feet (15') of every room used for sleeping purposes. The carbon monoxide alarm may be combined with smoke detecting devices provided that the combined unit complies with the respective provisions of this Code, reference standards, and departmental rules relating to bot...

Evanston City Code § 6-3-2

After the effective date of this Ordinance and except as expressly limited in Section 6-3-2-1 below, no land shall be proposed to be occupied or used and no building or structure shall be proposed to be located, constructed, reconstructed, enlarged or structurally altered, nor work commenced upon the same, nor occupied or used in whole or part for any purpose whatsoever until the Zoning Adminis...

Evanston City Code § 4-6-1

Pursuant to the authority granted by 65 ILCS 5/1-2-4, and pursuant to its home rule powers, the City of Evanston hereby adopts by reference the 2020 National Electrical Code, with the additions, deletions, exceptions, and other amendments set forth in this Chapter. All advisory or text notes, other than the rules and regulations contained in the 2020 National Electrical Code adopted hereby, are...

Evanston City Code § 5-1-3

Any owner or authorized agent who intends to ... erect, install, enlarge, alter, repair, remove, convert or replace any electrical, gas, mechanical or plumbing system, the installation of which is regulated by the International Building Code, International Residential Code, International Fire Code, International Mechanical Code, International Fuel Gas Code, NFPA 70 National Electrical Code, Sta...

Evanston City Code § 4-2-2 (IBC § 104.6, Right of Entry)

The Building Official and his/her authorized representatives are hereby authorized to make inspections of all buildings, structures, and premises located within the City to determine their compliance with the provisions of this Chapter... Such inspections shall be made between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. unless circumstances dictate the need for earlier or later inspections, on any day...