Aurora — Art. 22-II Housing Discrimination § 22-25
Exemptions
Operative Text
All exceptions, exclusions and/or exemptions set forth within the Illinois Human Rights Act (775 ILCS 5/1 et seq.) from time to time shall be deemed to be exemptions to the regulations contained within this chapter, and the following are also exempt from the regulations contained within this chapter: The following facilities are exempt from the age provisions in this chapter: Nursing homes licensed under the Nursing Home Care Reform Act of 1979 (210 ILCS 4011 et seq.). Facilities receiving federal or state funds, which funds have as a condition thereof that the facility rent or lease only to persons over sixty-two (62) years of age with stipulated levels of income. Rental or units in dwellings containing living quarters occupied or intended to be occupied by no more than four (4) families, living independently of each other, if the owner actually maintains and occupies one (1) of such living quarters as his residence. Nothing contained in section 22-24 shall prohibit restricting the rental of rooms in a housing accommodation to persons of one (1) sex. Nothing contained in this chapter shall prohibit an employer, employment agency or labor organization from: Hiring or selecting between persons for bona fide occupational qualifications or any reason except those prohibited practices specifically identified in section 22-24 of this chapter. Giving preferential treatment to veterans and their relatives as required by the laws or regulations of the State of Illinois and/or United States. Nothing contained in this chapter shall be construed to bar any religious organization from giving preference to persons of the same religious persuasion in the conduct of the organization's activities. (Ord. No. O12-043, § 1, 6-12-12)
Aurora § 22-25 establishes a set of exemptions to the city's housing discrimination rules, drawing directly from the Illinois Human Rights Act and adding local carve-outs. Certain facilities—such as licensed nursing homes, federally or state-funded housing restricted to residents over 62, and small owner-occupied buildings of four units or fewer—are not subject to the chapter's age-related provisions. Additional exemptions cover single-sex room rentals, employer hiring decisions based on bona fide occupational qualifications, legally required veteran preferences, and religious organizations giving preference to members of their own faith.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Aurora § 22-25, operators of small owner-occupied buildings with no more than four units are generally not bound by the chapter's anti-discrimination age provisions, provided the owner actually lives in one of the units. Landlords running facilities that receive federal or state funding conditioned on housing residents over age 62 at specified income levels similarly fall outside the chapter's age rules. Compliant operators in any category typically document their basis for claiming an exemption and ensure their practices align with both this local provision and the underlying Illinois Human Rights Act standards it incorporates.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Aurora § 22-25 defines the boundaries of the city's housing discrimination protections by identifying situations where those protections do not apply, which means a tenant's rights under this chapter depend in part on whether their housing falls within one of these exemptions. Tenants who believe a landlord is improperly claiming an exemption—for example, asserting owner-occupancy of a small building without actually residing there—may have grounds to challenge that claim under the broader framework of this chapter. General enforcement paths include filing a complaint with a local human rights or fair housing body, contacting a tenant-rights organization, or consulting an attorney familiar with Illinois fair housing law.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 6, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
Rules and statutes cited by this regulation
References In
Rules and statutes that cite this regulation