Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 5-12 § 5-12-101
Bed bugs – Education (Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO))
Operative Text
For any rental agreement for a dwelling unit entered into or renewed after the effective date of this 2013 amendatory ordinance, prior to entering into or renewing such agreement, the landlord or any person authorized to enter into such agreement on his behalf shall provide to such tenant the informational brochure on bed bug prevention and treatment prepared by the department of health pursuant to Section 7-28-860 . (Added Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 3) Editor's note - Per Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 6, § 5-12-101 becomes effective on 12-2-13.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 5-12 § 5-12-101, landlords are required to give tenants a bed bug prevention and treatment brochure—prepared by the Chicago Department of Health—before any rental agreement is entered into or renewed. This requirement applies to all covered rental agreements entered into or renewed after the ordinance's effective date of December 2, 2013. The rule ensures tenants receive standardized educational information about bed bugs at the outset of their tenancy.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 5-12 § 5-12-101 places the disclosure obligation squarely on the landlord or any authorized agent acting on the landlord's behalf. Compliant operators obtain the current bed bug informational brochure from the Chicago Department of Health and deliver it to prospective or renewing tenants before the rental agreement is signed. Maintaining a record of each delivery—such as a signed acknowledgment—is a common practice among operators seeking to document compliance with this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 5-12 § 5-12-101 gives tenants the right to receive a bed bug education brochure from their landlord before signing or renewing a lease. If a landlord fails to provide this brochure, that omission may be relevant to any dispute arising under Chicago's residential landlord-tenant ordinance, and tenants can raise the issue with the Chicago Department of Housing or consult a local tenant-rights organization to understand available options.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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