Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-900
Violation – Penalties (Chicago Health Nuisances Ordinance)
Operative Text
Any person who violates this article shall be fined not less than $300 nor more than $500 for the first violation, not less than $500 nor more than $1,000 for the second violation within twelve-months of the first violation, and not less than $1,000 nor more than $2,000 for the third or subsequent violation within such twelve- month period. Each day that a violation continues shall constitute a separate and distinct offense to which a separate fine shall apply. (Added Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 5) Editor's note - Per Coun. J. 6-5-13, p. 55787, § 6, §§ 7-28-810 - 7-28-900 become effective on 12-23-13.
Under Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-900, violations of the article carry escalating fines: between $300 and $500 for a first offense, $500 to $1,000 for a second offense within twelve months, and $1,000 to $2,000 for a third or subsequent offense within that same twelve-month window. Critically, each day a violation persists is treated as its own separate offense, meaning fines can accumulate rapidly over time. This tiered structure is designed to incentivize prompt correction of violations rather than allowing them to continue.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 7-28 § 7-28-900 generally maintain compliance by promptly addressing any cited violations before they extend into additional days, since each day of continued noncompliance triggers a new, separately fineable offense. Operators who have received a prior violation within the past twelve months face higher minimum and maximum fines for any subsequent offense, making timely remediation a standard part of compliant property management. Keeping records of corrective actions and their completion dates is a common practice among operators seeking to demonstrate that violations were resolved quickly.
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 § 7-28-900 establishes that violations of the article are subject to fines that increase with each repeat offense within a twelve-month period, and that every day a violation continues counts as a separate offense. Tenants who believe a landlord is maintaining an ongoing violation may have grounds to report the condition to the Chicago Department of Housing, which can trigger enforcement and the accumulation of per-day fines. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can help residents understand how this provision may apply to conditions in their building and what complaint processes are generally available.
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
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