The Illinois Structural Pest Control Act and Bed Bug provisions (410 ILCS 50.5) require landlords to retain licensed pest control operators and forbid renting visibly infested units. Cook County DPH responds to complaints in contracting suburbs; unlike California, Illinois has no mandated bed-bug disclosure form.
Illinois treats bed bug infestations under the Structural Pest Control Act (225 ILCS 235) and the Illinois Health and Safety provisions in 410 ILCS 50.5, which require any commercial pest control work, including bed bug treatment, to be performed by a licensed structural pest control technician. The Illinois Landlord and Tenant Act and habitability case law treat infestations as a condition of disrepair, generally placing remediation costs on landlords. Unlike California, Illinois has no mandatory pre-lease bed bug disclosure form. Cook County DPH Environmental Health responds to bed bug complaints in unincorporated areas and contracting municipalities, working with municipal code enforcement. Chicago Municipal Code Ch. 7-28 imposes additional disclosure and treatment timelines specifically inside the city.
Knowingly renting a unit with active bed bug infestation can support tenant rent abatement, repair-and-deduct, or habitability claims. Unlicensed treatment by non-structural pest operators violates 225 ILCS 235 and triggers IDPH civil penalties.
See how Arlington Heights's bed-bug rules rules stack up against other locations.
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