Registration Rules: Chicago vs Schaumburg

How do I register an Airbnb in Chicago?

Apply through BACP's Shared Housing Registration portal (webapps4.chicago.gov/chicagohouseshare). The unit must be your primary residence (lived in at least 245 days/year), pass a zoning review, and not appear on the City's prohibited buildings list or sit in a restricted residential zone. The annual fee is $125 per unit, and you must obtain your registration number before advertising on Airbnb or Vrbo.

Can I rent more than one Airbnb in the same Chicago building?

Generally no. In a building with 2 to 5 units, only one unit can be registered because each host is limited to one primary residence. In buildings with 5 or more units, the City caps short-term rentals at one-quarter of the units or six units, whichever is fewer, regardless of how many hosts apply.

Do I need a license to run an Airbnb in Schaumburg?

Yes. Title 11, Chapter 123 of the Schaumburg Village Code requires a Village rental license for any leased or rented residential property, and short-term rentals are explicitly included. You apply to the Code Enforcement Division, complete the Crime Free Housing seminar, and pay roughly $100 per year for a single-family STR. Licenses expire December 31 and must be renewed annually. Call (847) 923-3700 to confirm current requirements.

How often is my Schaumburg short-term rental inspected?

Short-term rentals are inspected annually by Village Code Enforcement, which is more frequent than the every-three-years cycle for ordinary single-family rentals. The interior inspection verifies basic life-safety items (smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, egress, electrical condition) before the license is issued or renewed.