Oak Park, IL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing law
- Oak Park Village Code § 7-13-2, § 12-2-6
- Heat season
- September 15 to May 15
- Daytime minimum temp
- 68F, 6:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
- Nighttime minimum temp
- 65F, 11:00 p.m.-6:30 a.m.
- Inspection scope
- 1/3 of units, 4+ unit rentals
- Violation fine range
- $20 to $750 per day
Summary
Oak Park landlords must supply heat to rental units from September 15 through May 15, keeping habitable rooms at 68F by day and 65F overnight. The Village also inspects a third of the units in every 4-plus unit rental building before licenses issue or renew.
Section 107.4 Violation Penalties.. Any person who violates a provision of this code, or fail to comply therewith, or with any of the requirements thereof, shall be prosecuted within the limits provided by state law or the Village Code. Any person who violates any provision of this code shall upon conviction be punished by a fine of not less than twenty dollars ($20.00) nor more than seven hundred fifty dollars ($750.00), and each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. ... Section 602.3 Heat Supply. Every owner and operator of any building who rents, leases or lets one or more dwelling units or sleeping units on terms, either expressed or implied, to furnish heat to the occupants thereof shall supply heat during the period from September 15 of each year to May 15 of the succeeding year to maintain a temperature in all habitable rooms, bathroom and toilet rooms as follows: 1. A minimum temperature of sixty-eight degrees Fahrenheit (68°F) from six thirty o'clock (6:30) A.M. to eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. and 2. A minimum temperature of sixty-five degrees Fahrenheit (65°F) from eleven o'clock (11:00) P.M. to six thirty o'clock (6:30) A.M.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-9: Code current through: Ord. 26-159, passed - -2026).
Full Breakdown
and 65F overnight, averaged throughout the unit and without undue restriction on ventilation; the duty lifts only when outdoor temperature drops below the Village's winter design temperature and the heating system is already running at full capacity. 4, which sets fines from $20 to $750 with each day of continued violation a separate offense. Habitability compliance in multi-family rentals is checked directly: Village Code § 12-2-6 requires the Neighborhood Services Department to inspect all common areas and at least one-third of the dwelling units in any rental property of four or more units, tied to the rental license renewal cycle, and no license (other than single-family) issues or renews without a valid inspection; condominiums with non-owner-occupied units get a biennial one-third inspection under the same section.
If Village-ordered repairs for an extreme health-and-safety hazard go uncorrected, § 12-2-10 lets the Village make the repair itself and lien the property for the cost.
Violations & Fines
Failing to supply required heat or otherwise violating the Property Maintenance Code carries a fine of $20 to $750 under § 7-13-2's Section 107.4, with each day a separate offense. Landlords who block a required rental inspection or let an extreme-hazard repair go uncorrected face a Village-ordered fix billed to them and, if unpaid within 30 days, a lien recorded against the property under § 12-2-10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What temperature must my Oak Park landlord keep my apartment at in winter?
How often does Oak Park inspect rental buildings?
What is the fine for a heat or habitability violation in Oak Park?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Oak Park
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Repairs & Habitability in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle repairs & habitability.