Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-120
Violation – Penalty (Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (HRO))
Operative Text
Unless another fine or penalty is specifically provided in this Code, any person who violates this Article I of Title 6 as determined by this Commission shall be fined not less than $5,000.00 and not more than $10,000.00 for each offense. In addition, any City licensee who violates this chapter or any rule promulgated thereunder may be subject to license discipline pursuant to Section 4-4-280 of this Code. Every day that a violation shall continue shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (Prior code § 199-12; Added Coun. J. 12-21-88, p. 23526; Amend Coun. 7-8-98, p. 72891; Amend Coun. J. 11-26-13, p. 68764, § 2; Amend Coun. J. 11-5-14, p. 95804, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 4-15-15, p. 106130, § 6; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 11-7-22, p. 54984, § 8)
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-120, violations of Article I of Title 6 carry fines ranging from $5,000 to $10,000 per offense, unless a different penalty is specified elsewhere in the Code. Critically, each day a violation continues counts as a separate offense, meaning fines can accumulate rapidly. City licensees found in violation may also face license discipline under Section 4-4-280 of the Municipal Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers operating under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-120 should be aware that a single unresolved violation can compound into multiple offenses—and multiple fines—because each day of non-compliance is treated as a distinct offense. Compliant operators generally act promptly to correct any identified violations to prevent the $5,000–$10,000 daily fines from stacking. Those holding City licenses face the additional risk of license discipline if found in violation of this chapter or its rules.
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. 6-10 § 6-10-120 establishes that violations of Article I of Title 6 are subject to substantial fines, and that each day a violation persists is treated as a separate offense. Tenants who believe a landlord is in ongoing violation of this article may consider documenting the duration of the violation, since the per-day structure can be relevant to enforcement proceedings. Tenant-rights organizations and the Chicago Department of Housing can be resources for understanding how complaints under this provision are filed and reviewed.
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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