A Landlord's Guide to the Chicago Heat Ordinance

Chicago winters are unforgiving. As a housing provider, you must keep your building in full compliance with the City’s Heat Ordinance, which is enforced by the Department of Buildings. Falling short can trigger inspections, daily fines, and CRLTO remedies for tenants. This guide summarizes what the law requires and how to stay compliant.

Fall Heating Checklist

Use this checklist yourself, or copy it and send it to your maintenance team or boiler contractor.

☐ Service the system. Have a qualified contractor inspect the boiler or furnace, test safety controls, and address radiator, valve, vent, or airflow problems. Flag leaks, unusual noises, and recurring shutdowns.

☐ Check apartment temperatures. Include top-floor, corner, and historically cold units. A thermostat reading in one location doesn’t tell you how the entire building is heating.

☐ Seal drafts. Repair damaged weatherstripping and make sure common-area doors close and latch properly.

☐ Test smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Replace batteries or devices as needed.

☐ Protect pipes. Arrange appropriate freeze protection for pipes in unheated areas and winterize exterior faucets.

☐ Confirm your emergency coverage. Keep your heating contractor’s contact information handy and confirm who handles after-hours calls.

☐ Tell residents how to report problems. Share the correct contact information and ask them to report heating issues promptly.

☐ Keep records. Save service reports and document temperature checks, reported problems, and completed repairs.

 

Heating Season

The required heating season runs from September 15 through June 1 each year. During this period, landlords must supply heat to rental units or any unit where occupants do not have individual control of the heat. 

 

Minimum Indoor Temperatures

For apartments served by a shared heating system, the general requirement from September 15 through June 1 is at least 68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. and 66°F overnight, with windows and exterior doors closed. These minimums apply in all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms.

A limited exception applies to buildings where the same facilities provide both heating and cooling. In those buildings, the minimum is 64°F during these periods:

  • Fall: September 15 through October 31, before the first date when the nighttime outdoor temperature falls below 45°F.

  • Spring: April 1 through June 1, on or after the first date when the daytime outdoor temperature exceeds 75°F.

Outside those exception periods, the standard 68°F daytime and 66°F overnight requirements apply during heating season.

 

Where Heat Is Required

Provide adequate heat to all habitable rooms, bathrooms, and toilet rooms. The Department of Buildings measures compliance three feet above the floor and at least three feet from exterior walls during inspections.

 

Equipment and Building Condition

Maintain permanent heating equipment in safe working order and keep the building envelope—doors, windows, and walls—in good repair so required temperatures can be maintained. Cooking appliances, fireplaces, domestic water heaters, and portable space heaters are not acceptable as the primary source of required heat.

 

Who Pays for Utilities vs. Who Must Comply

Your lease may assign the tenant responsibility for paying gas or electric bills, but you as the landlord remain legally responsible for ensuring the heating system is functional and capable of maintaining the minimum required temperatures during heating season.

In addition, if an apartment is separately metered for heat, the Chicago Municipal Code requires you to provide prospective tenants with a written disclosure before lease signing. This disclosure must confirm that the tenant is responsible for paying the heating costs and include a utility-issued statement showing the prior twelve months of heating costs. Tenants must sign a receipt acknowledging they received this disclosure, and failure to comply can result in fines of $500 per violation.

You can find the official City of Chicago Heating Cost Disclosure form, along with our step-by-step guide, on our Chicago Heating Cost Disclosure Form.

 

Enforcement and Fines

The City may cite violations and impose fines of $500 to $1,000 per day, per violation. The reason for the lack of heat does not matter; heat must be provided. Tenants can also report “no heat” to 311 for inspection.

 

Tenant Remedies Under the CRLTO (Essential Services)

Heat is an essential service. After proper written notice, tenants may pursue CRLTO remedies, which can include rent reduction, short-term substitute housing with offset, or lease termination if the failure persists, in addition to seeking damages and attorney’s fees. Always review the notice and cure timelines in the ordinance before responding.

 

Landlord Response Playbook

Before September 15, be sure to service boilers and furnaces, test controls and thermostats, and confirm venting and combustion air. As the season begins, communicate to tenants how to report heat issues and maintain a rapid response plan for no-heat calls. During inspections or cold snaps, document your actions and service tickets to demonstrate diligence and mitigate risk. These steps help you avoid violations and tenant claims while protecting habitability.

 

The general information that Domu provides about Chicago landlord-tenant law is not intended as legal advice. Domu endeavors to provide accurate information, but the law is subject to change, and Domu is not a law firm or provider of legal services. Questions about your particular leasing situation should be directed to a lawyer.