Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-8-7
PENALTIES (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
(A) Each day that any building or dwelling unit is not registered in accordance with the provisions of this Chapter shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (B) In addition to any of the penalties provided in this Chapter, any person violating the terms of this Chapter shall be fined seventy-five dollars ($75.00) for the first offense, two hundred dollars ($200.00) for the second offense, and three hundred seventy-five dollars ($375.00) for the third and any subsequent offense. (C) The intentional submission of false information on a registration statement or an amended registration statement filed pursuant to this Chapter shall be an offense punishable by a fine of not less than one hundred dollars ($100.00) nor more than five hundred dollars ($500.00). Each day that such information remains uncorrected by the owner(s) shall constitute a separate and distinct offense. (D) Any fines shall be debts due and owing to the City that the City may collect by any means allowed by law, including, but not limited to, filing a lien against the building.
Under Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-8-7, failing to register a building or dwelling unit as required by the chapter is treated as a new offense for every day the registration remains missing. Fines escalate with repeat violations—$75 for a first offense, $200 for a second, and $375 for a third or subsequent offense—and submitting false information on a registration statement carries its own separate fine of $100 to $500 per day until corrected. Unpaid fines become debts owed to the City of Evanston and can be collected through legal means, including placing a lien on the property.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners and managers subject to Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-8-7 generally keep all buildings and dwelling units registered and current under the chapter's requirements to avoid daily accumulating fines. Compliant operators ensure that every registration statement and any amendments contain accurate information, since intentional submission of false data triggers a separate, escalating fine for each day the error goes uncorrected. Because unpaid penalties can result in a lien being filed against the property itself, operators typically address any registration deficiencies promptly upon discovery.
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 § 5-8-7 establishes that landlords face escalating fines and potential property liens when they fail to register rental buildings or units as required, or when they submit false registration information. Tenants who believe their building is unregistered or that false information was filed may report the concern to the City of Evanston, which has authority to pursue fines and other legal remedies. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Evanston's rental registration requirements can help residents understand what options may be 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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