Skokie, IL Rental Property Rules: Repairs & Habitability (2026)
Key Facts
- Occupancy cap
- tied to number and size of bedrooms
- Extra occupant in shared bedroom
- +50 sq ft required
- Windows/doors/frames
- must stay weather tight, good repair
- Common areas
- cannot become bedrooms without replacement space
- Enforcement
- Building & Inspection Services Division
Summary
Skokie enforces habitability through its adopted 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, requiring windows, doors and frames to stay weather tight and in good repair and capping occupancy so a dwelling unit cannot hold more people than its bedrooms allow.
Pursuant to authority granted by 65 ILCS 5/1-3-2, the Village hereby adopts by reference the International Property Maintenance Code, 2021 Edition, and all regulations thereto, as published by the International Code Council, Inc., as the property standards code, excepting those provisions which are modified or deleted as provided in this article. ... (13)304.13 Window, skylight and door frames. Modify by replacing the first sentence of the text with the following: Every window, storm window, skylight, door and frame shall be kept in sound condition, good repair and weather tight. Doors shall fit tightly in the door jam. ... (24)404.5 Overcrowding. Replace text with the following: Dwelling units shall not be occupied by more occupants than permitted by the maximum number of occupants allowed by the number and size of bedrooms.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 205 | Zoning: Supplement 89).
Full Breakdown
Section 22-181 of the Skokie Village Code adopts the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code by reference as the Village's property standards code, and Section 22-183 then amends specific provisions to fit local conditions. 13 requires every window, storm window, skylight, door and frame to be kept in sound condition, good repair and weather tight, and specifically requires doors to fit tightly in the door jamb, a baseline weatherproofing standard that applies to every dwelling whether owner-occupied or rented. 1 adds that a bedroom shared by more than one occupant must include an additional 50 square feet of floor area for each extra occupant.
3 closes a common workaround by barring kitchens, bathrooms, dining rooms, living rooms and other open common areas from being converted into bedrooms without replacing that lost common space elsewhere in the unit. 1 requires that after any pest treatment the owner take precautions, including property and building modifications, to prevent reinfestation. 1 by mail or email to the owner's last known address.
Violations & Fines
A landlord who lets windows, doors or frames fail to stay weather tight, overcrowds a unit beyond its bedroom capacity, or allows vermin infestation to persist violates Chapter 22, Article VII and is subject to the Section 1-6 general penalty after a violation notice and, if unresolved, a stipulated settlement or hearing under Sections 22-184 through 22-186.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can my landlord put more tenants in a unit than it was built for?
What if my rental's windows or doors don't seal properly?
Can a landlord turn my building's common room into another bedroom?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Skokie
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How other cities in Cook County handle repairs & habitability.