Champaign, IL Rental Property Rules: Rental Registration (2026)
Key Facts
- Registration deadline for new rentals
- Within 30 days of use
- Annual renewal due date
- March 1
- Local Agent distance limit
- Within 45 miles
- Local Agent availability
- 24-hour basis
- First-offense fine
- $50
- Enforcement start date
- March 1, 2027
- False information fine
- $350+ per day
Summary
Every residential rental structure in Champaign, including short-term rentals, must register with the Neighborhood Services Department under Municipal Code Sec. 22-31.1 through 22-31.8, listing the owner, a 24-hour local agent, and parcel details, and renewing every year by March 1.
All new Residential Rental registrations shall be filed with the Code Official of the Department. Such registration shall be submitted with applicable forms or electronic methods provided by the Department and shall include the following information: (a)Legal address and Parcel Identification Number(s) of the property or properties being rented;(b)Name, street address, telephone number and electronic mail address (email) of the Owner of the property containing residential rental unit(s);(c)Name, street address, telephone number and electronic mail address (email) of the registered agent, if the Owner is a corporation, limited liability corporation, limited partnership or trust;(d)Name, street address, telephone number and electronic mail address (email) of the Local Agent responsible for the maintenance and emergency response of the property on a 24-hour basis; and(e)Number of buildings and the number of units in each building within the Residential Rental property.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 80).
Full Breakdown
Division 4 of Chapter 22 requires an owner to file the property's legal address and Parcel Identification Number, owner contact information, registered agent details for corporate owners, and the name, address, phone and email of a Local Agent responsible for maintenance and emergency response on a 24-hour basis. The Local Agent must be located within 45 miles of the property. Owners of existing rentals without a registration on file must register within 30 days of using the property as a rental; new rental buildings must register within 30 days of first use; any change in registration information or a change of ownership triggers a 30-day amendment deadline.
Renewals are due every March 1, though any registration filed after January 1 but before March 1 is not required to renew that same March 1. Exceptions cover assisted/independent living facilities, hotels, government- or University-owned housing, University Certified Housing, owner-related single-family occupants, and properties already registered as Vacant Nuisance Residential Buildings. The requirement expressly reaches short-term rentals advertised on platforms like Airbnb or VRBO, since Sec. '
Violations & Fines
Enforcement and penalties do not begin until March 1, 2027. After that date, each day a property sits unregistered is a separate offense: $50 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $350 for the third and every offense after that, enforceable in Circuit Court. Knowingly submitting false registration information carries a fine of at least $350, with each uncorrected day counting as a new offense.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do short-term rentals like Airbnbs need to register in Champaign?
When does Champaign start fining unregistered rentals?
Who is exempt from Champaign's rental registration requirement?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Champaign
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