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Cook County, IL Short-Term Rentals: Occupancy Limits (2026)

Some Restrictions
Compiled from the official code textEditor Martyn O'NeillLast verified August 2026

Key Facts

Guest cap
2 guests per bedroom
Supervised limit
≤25% of one floor's area
Non-Supervised limit
≤6 qualifying bedrooms
Bathrooms
1 per Guest bedroom required
Scope
Unincorporated Cook County only

Summary

In unincorporated Cook County, the zoning ordinance caps short-term rental guests at two per bedroom, limits Supervised rentals to 25 percent of one floor's area, and caps Non-Supervised rentals to six qualifying bedrooms.

City-specific rules exist: Tinley Park, Des Plaines, Oak Park, Chicago, and Schaumburg have their own occupancy limits rules that differ from Cook County's county-level regulations. If you live in one of those cities, check the city-specific page instead.

Guest Capacity.1.A Supervised Short-term Rental shall not utilize more than 25 percent of the total floor area of any one story within a dwelling unit to house Guests.2.One bathroom shall be available within the dwelling unit for each bedroom intended to house Guests.3.A maximum of two Guests are allowed per bedroom.

Source: Cook County Building CodesView official code

Full Breakdown

Cook County's zoning ordinance (Appendix A, unincorporated territory only) splits short-term rentals into Supervised (host present) and Non-Supervised (host absent) types. Both cap occupancy at two Guests per bedroom and require one bathroom per Guest bedroom. Supervised rentals additionally may not use more than 25 percent of any one floor's area to house Guests and need only a home-based business occupancy. Non-Supervised rentals are capped at six qualifying bedrooms, need a special use permit from the County in addition to the business occupancy, and may not host more than one reservation at a time.

Violations & Fines

Exceeding the per-bedroom guest cap or operating a Non-Supervised rental without the required special use permit is a zoning violation, enforceable by the Cook County Department of Building and Zoning under Appendix A, Article 13.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many guests can stay in a Cook County short-term rental?
The zoning ordinance allows a maximum of two Guests per bedroom used to house them, in both Supervised and Non-Supervised rentals, in unincorporated Cook County.
Does this apply inside Chicago or other Cook County suburbs?
No. This zoning rule (Appendix A) governs only unincorporated Cook County; incorporated municipalities like Chicago set their own short-term rental rules under separate codes.

Sources & Official References

Other rules in Cook County

All Cook County rules

Compare Cook County to another location·View the Illinois short-term rentals overview

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Occupancy Limits in Cities Across Cook County