Occupancy Limits: Des Plaines vs Evanston
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Des Plaines, IL and Evanston, IL?
Des Plaines and Evanston have similar restriction levels.
Des Plaines, IL
Cook County
A licensed Des Plaines rental zoned as a single-family dwelling may not operate as a hotel, motel, boarding house, rooming house, or transient lodging, may not be converted to multi-family use, and the entire unit (not individual rooms) must be rented.
View full Des Plaines rules →Evanston, IL
Cook County
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.
View full Evanston rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Des Plaines | Evanston |
|---|---|---|
| Code Section | Des Plaines Rental License Affidavit (Aug. 2023 CED Memo, Att. 1) | - |
| Whole-Unit Rule | Entire unit must be rented; no room rentals | - |
| Prohibited Uses | Hotel, motel, boarding/rooming house, transient lodging | - |
| Conversion | No conversion to multi-family dwelling | - |
| Numeric Guest Cap | None specific to STRs | - |
| Occupancy Standard | - | Generally 2 per bedroom |
| Maximum | - | Per building and fire code |
| Disclosure | - | Must be posted in listing |
| Licensing | - | Annual renewal required |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Des Plaines FAQ
How many guests can I host in a Des Plaines short-term rental?
Des Plaines does not set a short-term-rental-specific maximum guest count. However, the rental-license affidavit requires that the whole single-family unit be rented to a single party, prohibits renting individual rooms, and bars use as 'transient lodging,' a hotel, motel, boarding house, or rooming house. General property-maintenance and housing-code occupancy standards still apply.
Can I run my single-family home as a boarding house or rent rooms separately?
No. The signed rental affidavit states the property 'shall not include a hotel, motel, boarding house, rooming house, dormitory, nursing home, institution, or transient lodging,' and that the owner is 'not permitted to rent rooms or portions of the house.'
Evanston FAQ
How many guests can stay in an Evanston short-term rental?
Occupancy is generally limited to two persons per bedroom, not exceeding the building and fire code limits for the unit. The licensed capacity must be disclosed in the listing.
What happens if I exceed the occupancy limit in my Evanston rental?
Exceeding licensed occupancy limits may result in fines, license suspension, or revocation. Repeated violations can lead to permanent revocation of the rental license.
Do I need a license for a short-term rental in Evanston?
Yes. Evanston requires a short-term rental license with annual renewal. Contact Community Development at (847) 448-4311 for application requirements.
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