A new Bureau of Rental Housing Services would centralize enforcement, fund inspections and renter-policy enforcement, and coordinate with the rental registry.

Supporters say the measures would improve accountability for large corporate owners and help tenants fight evictions, while proponents emphasize protecting a renter population estimated at over 600,000 households.

Opposition from landlords and associations warns the ordinance could increase costs, deter investment, and burden small to mid-sized landlords, potentially slowing housing development.

Critical concerns include just cause eviction provisions and the registry’s enforcement burden, with calls for compromises on security deposits and move-in fees.

Officials say the measure could roll out in stages, with the housing committee next month and a final vote possibly delayed into fall due to council rules and elections.

At least 600,000 renter households would be affected, and the housing committee is expected to debate the measure in the coming month.

Chicago Mayor unveils the Protecting Renters Ordinance to overhaul the city’s four-decade-old RLTO, create a rental registry, and establish a new Bureau of Rental Housing Services to aid renters and enforce protections.

Key provisions include banning hidden fees, ensuring charges reflect documented costs, and creating a Tenant Bill of Rights, along with disclosure requirements if landlords use algorithmic pricing tools.

The ordinance would require landlords to document charges and disclose if units are priced algorithmically, and would ban junk fees to protect tenants.

The proposal aims to curb predatory practices and evictions by expanding tenant protections and regulating landlords, with supporters arguing it would modernize Chicago’s rental laws.

A citywide rental registry would catalog more than 500,000 rental units, reveal major ownership, and impose annual fees on landlords to fund inspections, enforcement, and relocation assistance, with exemptions for owner-occupied small buildings and nonprofits.

Projected annual registry fees total around $20 million to support eviction-prevention referrals, tenant protections, and landlord compliance guidance.