Affordable Housing Linkage Fee: Chicago vs Oak Park
How do affordable housing linkage fee rules compare between Chicago, IL and Oak Park, IL?
Oak Park has fewer restrictions than Chicago.
Chicago, IL
Cook County
Chicago's Affordable Requirements Ordinance MCC 2-44-080 requires residential developments of 10 or more units that receive city zoning bonuses, financial assistance, or are on city-owned land to set aside 20 percent affordable units, build off-site, or pay an in-lieu fee.
View full Chicago rules →Oak Park, IL
Cook County
Cook County operates the Affordable Housing Trust Fund through the Bureau of Economic Development, but no countywide developer linkage fee exists. Linkage and inclusionary fees are imposed suburb-by-suburb (Evanston, Highland Park, Oak Park, Skokie) under home-rule authority.
View full Oak Park rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chicago | Oak Park |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | MCC 2-44-080 | - |
| Threshold | 10 or more units | - |
| Set-aside | 20 percent affordable | - |
| Downtown in-lieu fee | About $135,000 per unit | - |
| Trigger | City bonus, land, or assistance | - |
| Cook AHTF | - | Ord. 04-O-04 |
| Countywide linkage | - | None |
| Evanston rate | - | 10% or ~$175K/unit |
| Funding sources | - | HOME, CDBG, general fund |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chicago FAQ
Does the ARO apply to all residential projects?
No. It applies only when projects of 10-plus units receive zoning bonuses, planned development approval, public land, or city financial assistance. Pure as-of-right private projects without those triggers are exempt.
How much is the ARO in-lieu fee?
Fees vary by location: roughly $135,000 per unit in the downtown high-cost zone, lower in equity priority zones. The 2021 amendments tied fees to local market rates and require off-site units within two miles.
Oak Park FAQ
Does my Cook County suburb have a linkage fee?
Likely only if it is home-rule (population over 25,000 or voter-approved). Check Evanston, Oak Park, Highland Park, Skokie, and Cicero zoning codes for project-specific inclusionary requirements.
Where does the Cook AHTF money come from?
Federal HOME and CDBG grants plus county general revenue, not developer fees. The fund supports nonprofit-owned affordable housing acquisition and rehab across suburban Cook.
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