Winnebago County, IL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)

Winnebago County's housing code (Chapter 18, Article IV) sets minimum equipment standards for every dwelling unit: a kitchen sink connected to an approved water supply with adequate heated and unheated running water under pressure, a working flush toilet, and a bathtub or shower, each tied to an approved sewer connection. Separately, the code bars any owner, operator, or occupant from shutting off, removing, or discontinuing a required service, facility, or utility in an occupied dwelling except for genuine repairs or health-officer-approved emergencies. Together these sections form the county's baseline habitability floor for unincorporated-area rentals, enforced by the code administrator and health officer.