Occupancy Limits: Highland Park vs North Chicago
How do occupancy limits rules compare between Highland Park, IL and North Chicago, IL?
North Chicago has fewer restrictions than Highland Park.
Highland Park, IL
Lake County
Highland Park regulates short-term rentals under Title XV, Chapter 150, Section 150.430 of the Zoning Code, adopted by City Council on November 9, 2020. The ordinance treats an STR as the accessory use of a dwelling unit for transient overnight stays shorter than 30 consecutive days, requires annual registration with Community Development by April 1, and ties overnight occupancy to the underlying property maintenance and life-safety code for the dwelling.
View full Highland Park rules →North Chicago, IL
Lake County
North Chicago has not adopted a stand-alone short-term rental ordinance with a numeric overnight occupancy cap. STR operators must obtain a landlord license under Title 5, Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, comply with the North Chicago Zoning Ordinance (updated November 18, 2024), and meet the occupancy figure shown on the dwelling's certificate of occupancy under the underlying property maintenance code.
View full North Chicago rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Highland Park | North Chicago |
|---|---|---|
| Code | Title XV Ch. 150 Sec. 150.430 | - |
| Adopted | November 9, 2020 | - |
| Annual Fee | $30 per unit | - |
| Renewal Deadline | April 1 | - |
| Occupancy Source | Certificate of occupancy | Certificate of Occupancy |
| Stand-Alone STR Cap | - | None adopted |
| Governing Framework | - | Title 5 Ch 14 + Zoning |
| Family Definition | - | 4 unrelated max (Sec 2.2.73) |
| Permit Authority | - | Econ & Comm Dev Dept |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Highland Park FAQ
How many guests can stay overnight in a Highland Park short-term rental?
Section 150.430 does not publish a stand-alone numeric overnight cap. The maximum overnight guest count for your unit is set by the certificate of occupancy and the property maintenance and life-safety code administered by the Building Division (847-432-0808), which apply minimum sleeping-room floor area and egress standards to the dwelling.
Do I need to notify my neighbors before renting on Airbnb in Highland Park?
Yes. Section 150.430 requires the owner, before the first short-term rental of a calendar year, to deliver written notice to the owners of every property contiguous to the STR and to register the unit with Community Development by April 1 each year for a $30 fee under the Chapter 154 program.
North Chicago FAQ
How many guests can stay overnight in a North Chicago short-term rental?
North Chicago has not adopted a numeric STR occupancy cap. The maximum overnight guest count for your unit is set by the certificate of occupancy and the underlying property maintenance code, and the Zoning Ordinance limits unrelated occupants to four per dwelling unit under the Section 2.2.73 definition of family. Confirm your figure with the Department of Economic and Community Development before listing.
Do I need permission from North Chicago to host on Airbnb?
Yes. Operators of rental dwellings must hold a landlord license under Title 5, Chapter 14 of the Code of Ordinances, and the Zoning Ordinance does not list short-term rental as a separate use, so the Department of Economic and Community Development may treat your listing under its hotel definition (Section 2.2.95) or require interpretation under Section 8.2 depending on the zoning district.
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