Soon, old man winter will be upon us. As a reminder, the Chicago Department of Buildings strongly enforces the Chicago Heat Ordinance. Landlords and property managers must ensure they are following the ordinance, which puts regulations on unit temperatures from September 15th through June 1st.
“The Chicago Department of Buildings enforces the Chicago Heat Ordinance. The Heat Ordinance mandates that during cold weather months landlords supply heat to rental units or to any unit where owners do not have individual control of the heat. From September 15 through June 1, the temperature inside a rental residence is required to be 68 degrees from 8:30 AM to 10:30 PM, and 66 degrees from 10:30 PM to 8:30 AM.
Landlords can face fines of $500 to $1,000 per day, per violation, for each day they do not supply adequate heat. The reason for lack of heat does not matter – landlords must follow the law, and apartments must be heated.”
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The Department of Buildings also recommends residents follow these safety precautions during the colder months:
- Don’t use an oven or stove as a heating source.
- Extension cords and space heaters are not recommended, but if they are used, they should be UL-certified.
- Ensure smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors are in working order.