12 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 10 cities in Cook County, Illinois.
Verified from official government sources
Operating a short-term rental without a valid license in Cook County is a misdemeanor. The Cook County Land Services Department oversees licensing. Illinois HB2919 prevents outright bans on STRs but allows health and safety regulations.
Short-term rental properties in unincorporated Cook County must comply with Chapter 30, Article V noise provisions. Guests and operators are subject to the same noise standards as all residents. Cook County maintains a 24/7 complaint hotline.
Cook County imposes a 1% accommodations tax on short-term rentals in addition to the Illinois Hotel Operators Occupation Tax (5.98%–6.17%). Multiple tax layers apply to STR operators in unincorporated areas.
Short-term rental properties in unincorporated Cook County must comply with Cook County Zoning Ordinance parking requirements. Guest vehicles must use designated parking areas and may not obstruct streets or neighboring properties.
Cook County STR occupancy is limited by the property's residential building code capacity under Chapter 102 and applicable fire safety standards. The International Residential Code adopted by the county governs habitable space 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 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...
Short-term rental operators must register with Cook County through the Land Services Department. Operating without registration is a misdemeanor. The county maintains a registry for enforcement and tax compliance.
Cook County Ordinance 19-5236 regulates short-term rentals in unincorporated areas through registration, taxation, and operator standards but does not require the host to live on-site or be present during stays, unlike Chicago's stricter Shared Housing rules.
Unlike Chicago's Shared Housing framework, Cook County Ordinance 19-5236 does not restrict short-term rentals to a host's primary residence. Any registered, tax-compliant unit in unincorporated Cook may operate as an STR regardless of whether it is owner-occupied.
Cook County Ordinance 19-5236 lets the Department of Revenue suspend or revoke a short-term rental registration after repeated violations such as unpaid taxes, ignored complaints, illegal parties, or false registration data, with a layered notice and hearing process before final revocation.
Illinois has no statewide STR platform-mandate law, and Cook County Ordinance 19-5236 places primary compliance duty on the host rather than the booking platform. Platforms cooperate voluntarily on tax remittance and registration data without strict statutory liability.
10 cities in Cook County have their own short-term rentals rules. Each link goes to that city's dedicated page with code citations.
13 verified rules • Extended Home Share, Host Platform Liability
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
8 verified rules • Insurance Requirements, Night Caps
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