Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-700
Structural changes (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
Whenever conditions inside or under any building or structure provide such extensive harborage for rats that the building commissioner deems it necessary to eliminate such harborage he may require the owner or occupant in charge of any such building or structure to install suitable cement floors in basements, or to require such owner or occupant to correct such rat harborage as may be necessary in order to facilitate the eradication of rats. (Prior code § 99-61.6)
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-700, when a building or structure contains conditions that provide significant harborage for rats, the city's building commissioner has authority to require the owner or occupant in charge to take corrective action. That action may include installing cement floors in basements or making other structural changes necessary to eliminate the conditions that allow rats to shelter and breed. The provision gives the building commissioner discretion to determine when harborage is extensive enough to trigger these requirements.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-700 places responsibility on property owners and occupants in charge to address structural conditions that enable rat harborage when directed by the building commissioner. Compliant operators generally maintain basements and sub-structure areas in a condition that does not provide extensive shelter for rodents, and they respond promptly to any commissioner-issued directive requiring cement floors or other structural corrections. Keeping records of inspections, repairs, and any correspondence with the building department is a practice commonly associated with demonstrating compliance.
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. 7-28 § 7-28-700 establishes that building owners or occupants in charge—not tenants—bear the obligation to correct structural rat harborage conditions when the building commissioner requires it. Tenants who observe significant rat harborage conditions in basements or other structural areas of their building may have grounds to report those conditions to the Chicago Department of Housing or the city's building department. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand what options are generally available, including whether such conditions may be raised in connection with habitability concerns.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.