Short-Term Rentals in Cook County, IL (2026)

9 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 8 cities in Cook County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Short-Term Rental Permits

In unincorporated Cook County, hosted short-term rentals are allowed as an accessory residential use, but non-supervised rentals, where the host isn't present, require a special use permit under the County Zoning Ordinance.

Cook County Short-Term Rental Permit Requirements

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance §§ 4.1.4, 4.1.6 & 14.2

Short-term Rental, Non-Supervised. A dwelling unit that is used as a Short-term Rental where the host is not present during a Short-term Rental Guest's length of stay. ... Short-term Rental, Supervised. A dwelling unit that is used as a Short-term Rental where the host is present during a Short-term Rental Guest's length of stay. ... A special use may be allowed subject to the issuance of a spe...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Noise Rules

In unincorporated Cook County, a Non-Supervised short-term rental, one where the host isn't present, may host private events only under strict zoning conditions. Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11.B.b.v bans events between 11:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m., caps attendees at a 2:1 ratio to registered guests (24 max), and limits any one rental to four events a year.

Cook County Short-Term Rental Event Hours

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11.B.b.v

v.Private Events. The intended use of a Non-Supervised Short-term rental is for temporary lodging and not a venue for events or assembly. However, private events may take place at Non-Owner Supervised Short-term Rentals and shall adhere to the following conditions:1.Events are prohibited to occur outside the hours of 11:00 PM and 8:00 AM.2.Event attendees to Short-term Rental Guest ratio shall ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Taxes & Fees

Cook County charges a 1% tax on short-term rentals of houses, condos and apartments countywide, collected by the host or booking platform and remitted to the County.

Cook County Hotel Accommodations Tax

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code §§ 74-801, 74-802

Hotel accommodations means... a room or rooms in any building or structure kept, used or maintained as or advertised or held out to the public to be an inn, motel, hotel, apartment hotel, lodging house, bed-and-breakfast establishment, vacation rental of condominiums, apartments or houses, dormitory or similar place... Effective May 1, 2016, a tax is hereby imposed on the use of any hotel accom...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Cook County's zoning ordinance does not require a short-term rental host to add parking spaces beyond what already serves the dwelling, true for both Supervised and Non-Supervised rentals in unincorporated Cook County, unless the existing parking is already non-conforming, or a Non-Supervised rental's special use permit imposes extra spaces case by case.

Cook County Short-Term Rental Parking Rules

Light Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11.B.a.ii, b.ii

[Supervised, § 8.7.11.B.a.ii] ii.Parking. No additional parking is required unless the existing parking ancillary to the dwelling is non-conforming. In this case, the parking shall be improved to comply with the zoning ordinance. [Non-Supervised, § 8.7.11.B.b.ii] ii.Parking. No additional parking is required unless the existing parking ancillary to the dwelling is non-conforming. In this case, ...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Occupancy Limits

In unincorporated Cook County, the zoning ordinance caps short-term rental guests at two per bedroom, limits Supervised rentals to 25 percent of one floor's area, and caps Non-Supervised rentals to six qualifying bedrooms.

Cook County Short-Term Rental Guest Limits

Some Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11

Guest Capacity.1.A Supervised Short-term Rental shall not utilize more than 25 percent of the total floor area of any one story within a dwelling unit to house Guests.2.One bathroom shall be available within the dwelling unit for each bedroom intended to house Guests.3.A maximum of two Guests are allowed per bedroom.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Insurance Requirements

Unincorporated Cook County does not have a dedicated short-term rental licensing or insurance ordinance. Short-term rentals in unincorporated areas fall under the Residential Rental License program (Ch. 102-180 through 102-197) for buildings with 4+ units. Illinois state law requires hosts to collect and remit hotel occupancy taxes.

Cook County Short-Term Rental Insurance

Some Restrictions

Cook County Residential Rental License — Chapters 102-180 through 102-197

Cook County Residential Rental License Ordinance — On June 29th 2016, the Cook County Board of Commissioners passed the Rental Dwelling Ordinance which requires the owners of the multi-unit buildings of four (4) or more units to obtain a Residential Rental License effective January 1st 2017. The Cook County Board of Commissioners has deemed it necessary to establish a Residential Rental License...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Host Presence Rule

Cook County's zoning ordinance splits short-term rentals into two tracks based on whether the host is present. A 'Supervised' rental, host on site during the stay, only needs a standard home-based-business occupancy. A 'Non-Supervised' rental, where the host is absent, must also obtain a special-use permit under §8.7.11(B).

Cook County Short-Term Rental Host Presence Rule

Significant Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11(B)

B.Short-term Rental Types.a.Supervised. A dwelling unit that is used as a Short-term Rental where the host is present during a Short-term Rental Guest's length of stay.i.Business Occupancy. Supervised Short-term Rentals shall obtain and conform to all other regulations for a home-based business occupancy. A special use will not be required unless the use exceeds the definition of a Supervised S...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Primary-Residence-Only Rule

Cook County's zoning ordinance sets no primary-residence requirement for short-term rentals in unincorporated areas: a host-absent Non-Supervised rental is legal with a special use permit instead of owner occupancy.

Cook County Short-Term Rentals Don't Require Owner Occupancy

Few Restrictions

Cook County Zoning Ordinance § 8.7.11

A dwelling unit that is used as a Short-term Rental where the host is not present during a Short-term Rental Guest's length of stay. Non-Supervised Short-term Rentals shall obtain a special use in accordance with the Codes of Ordinances of Cook County, Illinois, in addition to a business occupancy.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗