Your Landlord and Employer Must Keep You Warm This Winter in Chicago

Now that we’re in December, we’re reminded that winters in Chicago can be brutally cold. So, it may be comforting to know that your landlord and employer are required by law to supply you with adequate heat.

Chicago’s heating ordinance applies from September 15 to June 1. During this span, landlords and building owners who fall short of adequately heating their buildings face fines of $500 to $1,000 per day per violation.

For buildings with central (shared) heating equipment, the indoor temperature is required to be at least 68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and at least 66°F from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m. for the entire heating season. The law applies to houses, apartments, hotel rooms and indoor workspaces. Cook County has a similar ordinance.

Under the provisions of the heating ordinance, cooking appliances, domestic water heating equipment and portable space heaters cannot be used to meet minimum heating requirements.

(If you decide to use portable space heaters for extra warmth, use them safely, because if used improperly, a space heater can mean dangerous, even deadly consequences for you and your family.)

If you’re a resident or worker in the City of Chicago and your landlord or employer is not providing adequate heat, you can file a complaint using 3-1-1. The Department of Buildings says they will investigate complaints of inadequate heat and will act against landlords and employers who are not complying with the heating ordinance.