Revised Chicago Renter Ordinance Advances
Chicago committee advances revised renter ordinance amid fierce debate over fees and regulations.
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Key Points
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The competing FAIR proposal would redefine a “small landlord” by increasing the ownership threshold from six to 12 units and removing the requirement that the landlord live in the building.
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Michael Glasser of the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance said the ordinance would “layer costs and burdens” onto buildings housing working families and argued that it would neither reduce costs nor increase Chicago’s housing stock.
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Landlord Ahmed Ogunbunmi said he was considering selling his six West Side properties, warning that driving out local owners could allow corporate landlords to take over and become less invested in the communities they serve.
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Tenant advocate Jonah Karsh of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization said the revised ordinance remained a red line for his coalition because, in his view, it still takes away tenants’ rights; another advocate, Carson Wang of ONE Northside, said Chicago’s rental law had not been updated in 40 years, allowing landlords to exploit loopholes.
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After the committee vote, the ordinance is expected to go before the full City Council and then return to the mayor for approval or a veto, while FAIR’s separate review in the Zoning Committee could complicate that path.
Chicago's City Council Housing Committee voted 12-9 to advance Mayor Brandon Johnson's revised Protecting Renters Ordinance, clearing the way for a full council vote. The measure would create a rental registry, establish tenant protections, and restrict landlord fees — but faces a rival proposal backed by aldermen who say Johnson's plan goes too far Yahoo News.
Johnson stripped the original just-cause eviction clause from his plan, hoping to gain votes. Still, tenant advocates say it doesn't protect renters enough, while landlords warn the new fees and rules would raise rents and shrink housing supply ABC7 Chicago. A competing ordinance could complicate the path to passage FOX32 Chicago.
What Johnson's Revised Ordinance Would Do
The ordinance creates a citywide registry for rental units and a Bureau of Rental Housing Services. It restricts so-called junk fees — charges for applications, documentation, and other add-ons. The measure standardizes deposits and fees, and funds free legal help for tenants facing eviction through a per-unit landlord fee ABC7 Chicago.
Johnson removed the original just-cause eviction rules, which would have limited when landlords could evict tenants without reason. He also dropped relocation assistance that would have paid renters displaced by evictions Yahoo News.
Tenant Advocates Say Protection Remains Inadequate
Jonah Karsh of the Metropolitan Tenants Organization said the revised plan still "takes away tenants' rights" and doesn't go far enough. He cited Chicago's 40-year-old rental law, which he says landlords exploit through loopholes. Carson Wang of ONE Northside echoed this concern about outdated tenant protections Yahoo News.
Advocates worry the ordinance leaves renters vulnerable to retaliation and landlord abuses. They argue that removing just-cause eviction protections weakens the safety net for vulnerable tenants ABC7 Chicago.
Landlords Warn of Rising Rents and Fewer Rentals
Michael Glasser of the Neighborhood Building Owners Alliance said the ordinance would "layer costs and burdens" onto buildings serving working families. He argued it would neither cut housing costs nor boost Chicago's rental supply Yahoo News.
Landlord Ahmed Ogunbunmi said he's considering selling his six West Side properties. He warned that pushing out local owners could let corporate landlords take over — companies that invest less in their communities ABC7 Chicago.
Competing Ordinance Offers Different Path Forward
The FAIR ordinance, backed by Alderman Gilbert Villegas and others, would impose fewer restrictions. It redefines a "small landlord" by raising the ownership threshold from six to 12 units and removing the requirement that owners live in their buildings ABC7 Chicago.
FAIR would establish an alternative rental registry without landlord registration fees. The Zoning Committee's separate review of this competing plan could delay the city's path to a final vote on housing reform ABC7 Chicago HOODline.
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