Chicago · a city ordinance on top of Illinois law
Bed bug law in Chicago. Who’s responsible, and how to report it.
Illinois has no bed bug statute of its own — but Chicago’s Bed Bug Ordinance fills the gap with real, enforceable duties: a landlord’s duty to exterminate, mandatory information for tenants, and unusual teeth — up to two months’ rent or double damages if the landlord fails. Here is what is specific to the city, each point sourced to Chicago’s own code. For the underlying state rules, see the Illinois page.
What Chicago’s ordinance requires
Municipal Code § 7-28-830
The landlord must exterminate
Landlords have a duty to exterminate a bed bug infestation, using a licensed pest control professional — and to keep treating adjoining units as needed. Landlord and tenant share responsibility for prevention, but eradication is the owner’s job. City of Chicago (CDPH)
At every lease
A required bed bug brochure
The owner must give tenants the city’s bed bug information brochure when signing or renewing a lease (this one doesn’t apply to owner-occupied buildings of six units or fewer). City of Chicago
The teeth
Two months’ rent, or double damages
If the landlord violates the extermination duty, the tenant may terminate or recover possession and recover two months’ rent or twice the actual damages, whichever is greater, plus reasonable attorney’s fees — and has a defense against retaliation. City of Chicago
How to report bed bugs in Chicago
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Notify your landlord in writing
Tenants must cooperate — report a suspected infestation and grant access for inspection and treatment. Put it in writing and keep a copy. Our what-to-do-tonight guide covers the first steps; log the dates and photos. City of Chicago
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If it isn’t handled, call 311
File a complaint with 311; the Chicago Department of Public Health and Buildings enforce the ordinance and can cite a non-compliant owner. CHI311
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Do not put infested furniture at the curb
Chicago restricts disposing of bed-bug-infested mattresses and furniture improperly — it spreads the problem down the block and can bring its own penalty. Bag and label anything you must discard. City of Chicago
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Know your remedy
If the landlord won’t act, the ordinance’s two-months’-rent / double-damages remedy is real leverage — and the Illinois page covers habitability and who pays. Consider legal aid before withholding rent.
Common questions
Does my landlord have to pay for bed bug treatment in Chicago?
Yes. Chicago’s bed bug ordinance (Municipal Code §7-28-830) requires the landlord to arrange and pay a licensed exterminator to treat an infested unit — and the units around it. A tenant cannot be charged for it.
What happens if my Chicago landlord ignores a bed bug report?
The ordinance carries daily fines, and a landlord who fails to treat can owe the tenant up to two months’ rent or twice the actual damages. Report an unresponsive owner to the city through 311 / the Department of Public Health.
Do I have to do anything as the tenant?
Yes. The ordinance puts duties on tenants too — you must cooperate with inspection, prepare the unit as directed, and not interfere with treatment. The city’s bed bug brochure lays out both sides’ obligations.
Where this comes from
- City of Chicago — Dept. of Public Health — Bed Bugs; “Code at a Glance: Bed Bugs” (Municipal Code § 7-28-830 and the Bed Bug Ordinance). chicago.gov
- CHI311 — Learn about bed bugs and requirements for landlords and tenants; filing a complaint. 311.chicago.gov
- Illinois habitability law — the state backdrop the ordinance sits on. See the Illinois analysis.
Reviewed against the city’s own guidance on . Ordinances are amended — confirm the current code before relying on it. This is sourced guidance, not legal advice.