Cook County, IL Public Health Rules: Rodent Control (2026)

Under the county's Residential Tenant and Landlord Ordinance (Ch. 42, Art. IV), a dwelling unit's habitability standard includes rodent extermination and rodent-proofed foundations, exterior walls and roofs, landlords must keep both in place. If a landlord isn't in material compliance, a tenant can send 14 days' written notice, then withhold rent, terminate the lease, or sue for damages and injunctive relief under Sec. 42-105/42-106. The Ordinance applies countywide, including incorporated municipalities, unless a city or village has adopted its own landlord-tenant code with equivalent tenant protections, those municipalities are excluded. Chicago has its own separate Municipal Code and RLTO, not this one.