Evanston, IL Short-Term Rentals: Short-Term Rental Permits (2026)
Short-term rental permit rules in Evanston, IL, also called Airbnb permits, vacation rental licenses, or STR registration, list the application steps, fees, and operating requirements for hosting.
Key Facts
- License term
- One year, renewable
- Application fee
- $250 plus $150 annual
- Non-owner-occupied review
- Committee and City Council
- Neighbor notice
- 250-foot radius required
Summary
Operating a vacation rental in Evanston without a City license is illegal; non-owner-occupied units need Planning and Development Committee review, a 250-foot neighbor notice, and City Council approval before a one-year license issues.
(A)It shall be unlawful to operate a vacation rental within the City of Evanston without a current, valid license issued pursuant to the terms of this Chapter.(B)Each license issued pursuant to this Chapter shall be valid for one (1) year, subject to renewal per Section 4 of this Chapter.(C)Subsection (A) of this Section notwithstanding, no license shall be required to operate a vacation rental for no more than one (1) rental period per dwelling unit per twelve-month period for...
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 21).
Full Breakdown
Evanston City Code § 5-9-3 makes it unlawful to operate a vacation rental, a stay under 30 days, without a current license, valid for one year and renewable. Owner-occupied applications get staff-level review, but non-primary-residence rentals go to the Planning and Development Committee and City Council, which can approve, condition, or deny based on cumulative neighborhood impact and other standards in § 5-9-4. Applicants must notify property owners within 250 feet and pay a $250 application fee plus $150 annual license fee.
Violations & Fines
Operating without a license, or violating license terms, draws fines from $200 to $750 per violation per day and can lead to license revocation, suspension, or denial of renewal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Evanston call these short-term rentals?
Can the City deny a vacation rental license?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Evanston
How Evanston compares: Most Airbnb-Friendly Cities in America·Compare Evanston to another location·View the Illinois short-term rentals overview
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Short-Term Rental Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle short-term rental permits.