Chicago's Shared Housing Ordinance (MCC 4-13 and 4-14) establishes occupancy limits for short-term rentals. The 2024 amendments added explicit maximum occupancy requirements for shared housing units and vacation rentals.
Under the Shared Housing Ordinance, a shared housing unit must be the host's primary residence. The 2024 City Council amendments to MCC 4-13 and 4-14 require monthly reporting from licensees and outline maximum occupancy limits. Vacation rentals (entire units not occupied by the owner) face density restrictions, and approximately 1,000 buildings were banned from hosting STRs when the ordinance first passed in 2016. Occupancy is generally limited to 2 persons per bedroom plus additional common-area capacity. Hosts must maintain guest registers.
Violations of the Shared Housing Ordinance carry fines of $1,500 to $5,000 per offense. Operating without registration carries a $1,500 fine for a first offense and up to $3,000 for subsequent offenses. Each day of violation constitutes a separate offense.
Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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Chicago, IL
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how other cities in Cook County handle occupancy limits.
See how Chicago's occupancy limits rules stack up against other locations.
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