Chicago Heights — Ch. 23 Human Relations § 23-88
New construction
Operative Text
In addition to those prohibited acts identified in section 23-39 and division 2, it shall also be unlawful to fail to design and construct dwellings in such a manner that: (a) Each dwelling has at least one building entrance on an accessible route; (b) The public use and common use portions of such dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by a disabled person; (c) All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within such dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by disabled persons in wheelchairs; and (d) All premises within such dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design: (1) An accessible route into and through the dwelling; (2) Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations; (3) Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and (4) Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
Chicago Heights Ch. 23 § 23-88 establishes that newly constructed dwellings must be designed and built to meet specific accessibility standards. These requirements include accessible building entrances and routes, sufficiently wide doorways for wheelchair passage, accessible common areas, and adaptive design features such as reachable controls, bathroom reinforcements for grab bars, and maneuverable kitchen and bathroom layouts. The provision works alongside the broader prohibited acts in § 23-39 and Division 2 to ensure that disability-related discrimination does not occur through the built environment itself.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property owners involved in new construction covered by Chicago Heights Ch. 23 § 23-88 generally ensure that plans and specifications are reviewed for compliance before construction begins. Compliant projects typically include at least one accessible entrance route, doorways wide enough for wheelchair users, accessible placement of switches and outlets, bathroom walls reinforced for future grab-bar installation, and kitchens and bathrooms with adequate maneuvering space. Operators commonly document design decisions and retain records showing how each adaptive design element required under § 23-88 was addressed during the construction phase.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago Heights Ch. 23 § 23-88 gives people with disabilities a basis to expect that newly constructed dwellings meet specific accessibility and adaptive design standards, including accessible entrances, wide doorways, and usable kitchens and bathrooms. If a newly built dwelling appears to fall short of these requirements — for example, lacking an accessible entrance route or missing bathroom reinforcements for grab bars — residents may have grounds to raise a violation under the Human Relations chapter. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the Chicago Heights Human Relations Commission, consulting a fair housing organization, or reaching out to a tenant-rights group familiar with disability access requirements under § 23-88.
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