Fair Housing: Illinois

This page is intended for informational purposes only and does not constitute, and should not be construed as, legal advice. This page is not intended to provide a mandatory standard of care for the industry. Please consult with local counsel before taking any action based off of the information provided. 

On these pages, you will find information about 1) the protected classes in each state’s fair housing law, 2) protected classes in the cities and counties in the state’s three largest city or metropolitan areas, and 3) protected class information in additional jurisdictions of interest to NAA members. We highlight source of income protections, where applicable, that could substantially impact industry operations. Please see the footnotes. NAA also has resources on the federal fair housing protections that apply nationwide.

We are currently in the process of optimizing NAA’s Fair Housing Protected Class Resources. If you do not see a jurisdiction of interest, please reach out to the NAA Government Affairs Team at [email protected].

Information on this page is current as of September 2022.

Illinois Protected Classes

(State of Illinois Compiled Statutes - Human Rights Act 775 ILCS 5/1-102 (from Ch. 68, par. 1-102)

  • Race

  • Color

  • National Origin

  • Religion

  • Sex

  • Familial Status

  • Disability

  • Pregnancy

  • Age

  • Ancestry

  • Order of Protection Status

  • Marital Status

  • Military Status

  • Sexual Orientation

  • Unfavorable Discharge from Military

  • Source of Income[1]

[1] 775 ILCS 5/1-103 [O-5] adds source of Income as a protected class and defines Source of income as "the lawful manner by which an individual supports himself or herself and his or her dependents."

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Jackson County Ordinances and Resolutions)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Carbondale Protected Classes

(Carbondale Municipal Code §§ 4-11-1, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Cook County Code § 42-38)​

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Favorable Discharge from Military
  • Gender Identity
  • Housing Status
  • Source of Income2

Arlington Heights Protected Classes

(Arlington Heights Municipal Code §6-504)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Buffalo Grove Protected Classes3

(Buffalo Grove Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

City of Chicago Protected Classes

(City of Chicago Municipal Code §5-8-010 et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Evanston Protected Classes

(Evanston Municipal Code §§ 5-5-1, et seq.; 5-3-9-1)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Gender Identity

Glenview Protected Classes

(Glenview Municipal Code §§ 18-1050, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Housing Status

La Grange Protected Classes

(La Grange Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Mount Prospect Protected Classes

(Mount Prospect Municipal Code §§ 23.1201 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Creed

Naperville Protected Classes

(Naperville Municipal Code §§12-4-1 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Gender Identity
  • Housing Status

Oak Park Protected Classes

(Oak Park Municipal Code § 13-1-2; § 13-2-1)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Gender Expression
  • Gender Identity
  • Housing Status
  • Veteran Status

Palatine Protected Classes

(Palatine Municipal Code § 11-242 (8)-(12))

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Tinley Park Protected Classes

(Tinley Park Municipal Code§§ 102.01, et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Creed

2Source of Income means the lawful manner by which an individual supports themselves and their dependents.

3Buffalo Grove lies in both Cook and Lake Counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(DuPage County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Downer's Grove Protected Classes

(Downer's Grove Municipal Code §§ 13A.19, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Elk Grove Village Protected Classes

(Elk Grove Village Municipal Code §8-7-13)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Glendale Protected Classes

(Glendale Municipal Code § 6-10-2)

Lisle Protected Classes

(Lisle Municipal Code §§ 4-17-1, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Lombard Protected Classes

(Lombard Municipal Code §§ 136.01, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Wheaton Protected Classes

(Wheaton Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Winfield Protected Classes

(Winfield Municipal Code §§ 3-8-1, et seq.)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Kane County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

Elgin Protected Classes

(Elgin Municipal Code §§ 3.12.010 et seq.)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected class:

  • Gender Identity

St. Charles Protected Classes4

(St. Charles Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

 

4St. Charles former codified protection, §§ 15.44 et seq., have been repealed

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Lake County Code)

In addition to enforcement of federal and state protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Gender5
  • Victim Of Sexual Harassment5

 

Buffalo Grove Protected Classes6

(Buffalo Grove Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

Vernon Hills Protected Classes

(Vernon Hills Municipal Code § 5-320; § 5, 1-9-96; Ord. No. 96-03)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

 

5This protected class is found in a local fair housing source, not statutory code.

6Buffalo Grove lies in both Cook and Lake Counties

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(McHenry County Code § 2.96.180)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Will County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

City of Aurora Protected Classes

(City of Aurora Municipal Code § 22-24)​

Aurora also partially resides in DuPage, Kane, and Kendall Counties            

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Creed
  • Gender

City of Naperville Protected Classes

(City of Naperville Municipal Code §12-4-1 et seq.)​

Naperville also partially resides in DuPage County.            

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Source of Income7
  • Gender Identity
  • Housing Status

Lockport Protected Classes

(Lockport Municipal Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes

7Source of Income means any lawful income, subsidy or benefit with which an individual supports himself or herself and his or her dependents, including but not limited to, child support, maintenance, and any federal, state or local public assistance, medical assistance or rental assistance program.

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Winnebago County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes

City of Rockford Protected Classes

(City of Rockford Municipal Code § 11-81 et seq.)​

In addition to enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes, this jurisdiction also includes the following protected classes:

  • Use of a Support Animal

This section includes relevant county and city information. Note there could be differences or overlap in the laws’ housing provider obligations.

(Sagamon County Code)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal and state protected classes.

City of Springfield Protected Classes

(City of Springfield Municipal Code §93.11)

This jurisdiction emphasizes enforcement of federal, state, and county protected classes.