Short-Term Rentals in Evanston, IL (2026)
8 verified short-term rentals rules for Evanston, Illinois, sourced directly from the municipal code and official government pages.
Verified from official government sources
Permit Requirements
Evanston requires a Short-Term Rental License for any rental of a dwelling unit for fewer than 30 consecutive days. The license is issued by the Community Development Department and must be renewed annually. Only owner-occupied or owner-authorized properties are eligible, and listings must display the license number.
Evanston Short-Term Rental License Requirements
Heavy RestrictionsNoise Rules
Short-term rental guests in Evanston must comply with the city's general noise ordinance, with quiet hours from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM weekdays and 10:00 PM to 9:00 AM weekends. Hosts are responsible for informing guests of noise rules and may face license action for repeated guest violations.
Evanston Short-Term Rental Noise Rules
Heavy RestrictionsTaxes & Fees
Evanston imposes a Hotel/Motel Tax on short-term rentals at a combined rate of approximately 7% of gross rental receipts, collected by the host and remitted quarterly. This is in addition to the STR license fee. Illinois also collects state hotel occupancy taxes.
Evanston Short-Term Rental Taxes & Fees
Heavy RestrictionsParking Rules
Evanston requires STR hosts to provide guests with parking information and available off-street parking options. In permit-parking zones, guests may not use residential parking permits. Hosts are encouraged to offer off-street parking or direct guests to public lots.
Evanston Short-Term Rental Parking Rules
Some RestrictionsOccupancy Limits
Evanston regulates the number of guests permitted in short-term rental properties. Occupancy limits are tied to the number of bedrooms and must comply with the city's licensing requirements for vacation rentals and shared housing units.
Evanston Short-Term Rental Occupancy Limits
Some RestrictionsInsurance Requirements
Evanston requires short-term rental operators to maintain liability insurance coverage as a condition of licensure. Hosts must carry adequate insurance to cover guest injuries and property damage during rental periods.
Evanston Short-Term Rental Insurance Requirements
Some RestrictionsNight Caps
Evanston's vacation rental ordinance (Title 5 Chapter 9) does not impose a per-unit annual night cap. Instead, Ordinance 2-O-26 (adopted February 24, 2026) caps the citywide total at one short-term rental per 100 long-term rental units, which staff projected at roughly 144 STRs given approximately 14,450 registered long-term units, plus a 600-foot separation between STRs.
STR Night Caps in Evanston
Heavy RestrictionsRegistration Rules
Evanston regulates vacation rentals under Title 5, Chapter 9 of the City Code. Operators must obtain a Short-Term Rental license issued by Community Development before listing on Airbnb or Vrbo, and the host platform itself must hold a Short-Term Residential Rental Intermediary (STRRI) license under Ordinance 2-O-26 adopted February 24, 2026.
STR Registration Rules in Evanston
Heavy RestrictionsLooking for Cook County county-wide rules?
County ordinances apply to unincorporated areas and may supplement Evanston city rules.
Short-Term Rentals in Cook County →