Chicago Heights — Ch. 23 Human Relations § 23-86
Unit modification
Operative Text
In addition to those prohibited acts identified in section 23-39 and division 2, it shall also be unlawful to refuse to permit, at the expense of the disabled person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises; except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before the modifications, reasonable wear and tear excepted.
Chicago Heights Ch. 23 § 23-86 addresses the right of people with disabilities to make physical changes to their housing. Under this provision, it is unlawful for a housing provider to refuse a reasonable modification to a unit when that change is needed for a person with a disability to fully enjoy the premises, provided the disabled person pays for the work. In rental situations, the housing provider may require the tenant to agree to return the interior to its original condition after the modifications, with an allowance for normal wear and tear.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Section 23-86 of the Chicago Heights Human Relations Code means that compliant rental operators generally allow reasonable, disability-related modifications when the resident covers the cost. Operators who condition approval on a restoration agreement typically put that requirement in writing, specifying that only the interior need be restored and that ordinary wear and tear is excluded. Documenting the pre-modification condition of the unit—such as through photographs or a written description—is a practice commonly associated with administering restoration agreements under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Chicago Heights Ch. 23 § 23-86, tenants with disabilities have a protected right to make reasonable modifications to their unit at their own expense when those changes are necessary for full enjoyment of the premises. A landlord's refusal to permit such modifications may constitute an unlawful act under this section, and tenants who believe their rights have been violated may consider filing a complaint with the Chicago Heights Human Relations Commission or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with local disability accommodation rules. Keeping records of any modification requests and the landlord's responses can be useful when pursuing any available enforcement path under § 23-86.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation