Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-5-2
PURPOSE AND DECLARATION OF POLICY (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
It is hereby declared to be the policy of the City and the purpose of this Chapter, in the exercise of its police and regulatory powers for the protection of the public safety for the health, morals, safety and welfare of the persons in and residing in the City, and for the maintenance and promotion of commerce, industry, and good government in the City, and to promote and protect fair housing opportunities throughout the City and to acknowledge the value of diversity within our community, to secure to all persons living and/or working, or desiring to live and/or work in the City of Evanston, an equal opportunity to view, purchase, lease, rent, or occupy real estate without discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, disability, source of income, familial status, national origin of any individual, covered criminal history, or actual or perceived status as a victim of domestic violence.
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-5-2 establishes the city's foundational fair-housing policy, declaring that every person who lives, works, or seeks to live or work in Evanston is entitled to equal access to real estate transactions. The provision prohibits differential treatment in viewing, purchasing, leasing, renting, or occupying property on the basis of a broad set of protected characteristics, including race, religion, sex, age, disability, source of income, covered criminal history, and status as a domestic-violence victim, among others. This chapter sets the overarching purpose that guides the more specific rules found elsewhere in the same title.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-5-2, operators of rental housing in Evanston are expected to conduct all aspects of their business—advertising, screening, leasing, and occupancy—without regard to any of the protected characteristics enumerated in this chapter. Compliant operators typically maintain consistent written criteria for applicant evaluation and apply those criteria uniformly across all prospective tenants. Because § 5-5-2 anchors the entire fair-housing chapter, practices that conflict with its policy statement can implicate the more specific enforcement provisions that follow.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-5-2 affirms that residents and prospective residents have a right to equal housing opportunity free from discrimination based on characteristics such as race, source of income, disability, covered criminal history, or domestic-violence status. Tenants who believe a landlord's conduct conflicts with this policy may raise the provision as context when filing a complaint with a local human-relations or fair-housing body, or when consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Evanston's code. Because § 5-5-2 is a purpose and policy statement, it is typically read alongside the operative sections of the chapter that spell out specific remedies and procedures.
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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