Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-100
Retaliation prohibited (Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (HRO))
Operative Text
No person shall retaliate against any individual because such individual has: (1) opposed what that individual reasonably and in good faith believes to be an incident of unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment; (2) made a charge, filed a complaint, testified, assisted, or participated in an investigation, proceeding or hearing under this chapter, or under subsection (f)(3) of Section 4-6-180 ; or (3) requested, attempted to request, used, or attempted to use a public accommodation as allowed in this chapter. (Prior code § 199-10; Added Coun. J. 12-21-88, p. 23526; Amend Coun. J. 10-11-17, p. 57510, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 12-12-18, p. 93551, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 11)
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-100 prohibits any person from retaliating against an individual who has opposed what they reasonably and in good faith believe to be unlawful discrimination or sexual harassment, who has participated in a related complaint or investigation process, or who has sought to use a public accommodation as permitted under the chapter. The rule applies broadly—covering anyone who takes adverse action against a protected individual for these reasons. Retaliation itself is treated as a separate, independent violation regardless of the outcome of the underlying discrimination claim.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating in Chicago should be aware that § 6-10-100 of the Municipal Code prohibits taking adverse action against a tenant or applicant because that person raised a discrimination concern, participated in an investigation or proceeding, or exercised their right to access a public accommodation. Compliant operators generally document their business decisions carefully so that any adverse action—such as a lease non-renewal or eviction—can be shown to rest on legitimate, non-retaliatory grounds. Maintaining clear, contemporaneous records of the reasons behind housing decisions is a practice commonly associated with compliance under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-100.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-100, tenants are protected from retaliation when they have reported or opposed what they reasonably believed to be discrimination or sexual harassment, participated in a related complaint or investigation, or attempted to use a public accommodation as the chapter allows. If a tenant believes they have experienced retaliation—such as an eviction notice or sudden rent increase following a complaint—they may have grounds to raise a violation of § 6-10-100 as a defense in a housing proceeding or to file a complaint with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help individuals understand the range of options available under this provision.
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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