Chicago, Ill., Mun. Code ch. 6-10 § 6-10-070
Discriminatory practices – Public accommodations (Chicago Human Rights Ordinance (HRO))
Operative Text
No person that owns, leases, rents, operates, manages or in any manner controls a public accommodation shall withhold, deny, curtail, limit or discriminate concerning the full use of such public accommodation by any individual because of the individual’s race, color, sex, gender identity, age, religion, disability, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, marital status, parental status, military status, source of income, or because of the actual or perceived association with such an individual. The prohibition contained in this section shall not apply to the following: (a) a private club or other establishment not in fact open to the public, except to the extent that the products, facilities or services thereof are made available to the general public or to the customers or patrons of another establishment that is a public accommodation; (b) any facility, as to discrimination based on sex, which is distinctly private in nature, such as restrooms, shower rooms, bathhouses, dressing rooms and health clubs; (c) any facility, as to discrimination based on sex, which restricts rental of residential or sleeping rooms to individuals of one sex; (d) any educational institution, as to discrimination based on sex, which restricts enrollment of students to individuals of one sex; and (e) notwithstanding subsections (a) through (d) above, any person may use a public accommodation or any of its products, facilities or services that are open to persons of his or her sex. For purposes of this subsection, "sex" includes both biological category and gender identity. Each person determines his or her own gender identity; no proof shall be required except his or her expression of his or her gender. (Prior code § 199-7; Added Coun. J. 12-21-88, p. 23526; Amend Coun. J. 11-6-02, p. 96031, § 3; Amend Coun. J. 2-10-16, p. 18514, § 12; Amend Coun. J. 6-22-16, p. 26608, § 1; Amend Coun. J. 4-27-22, p. 46382, § 11; Amend Coun. J. 4-16-25, p. 26724, § 2)
Chicago Municipal Code § 6-10-070 prohibits anyone who owns, operates, manages, or controls a public accommodation from denying or limiting a person's full use of that space based on characteristics such as race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, source of income, or several other protected categories. The rule also covers discrimination based on a person's perceived or actual association with someone in a protected class. Certain narrow exceptions apply, including genuinely private clubs, sex-specific facilities like restrooms and shower rooms, and single-sex residential or educational institutions, though even within those exceptions, individuals may access any facility open to persons of their gender identity.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of public accommodations in Chicago — including rental offices, lobbies, laundry rooms, and other common areas open to the public — are generally expected under § 6-10-070 to provide equal access to all guests and residents regardless of protected characteristics such as race, disability, source of income, or gender identity. Compliant operators typically review their access policies, staff training, and signage to ensure no group is treated differently in the use of shared facilities. The narrow exceptions in § 6-10-070(a)–(e) are specific and limited, so operators who believe an exception applies generally seek guidance to confirm it before restricting access.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under § 6-10-070, tenants and members of the public have the right to full, equal use of any public accommodation without being turned away or limited because of race, gender identity, disability, source of income, sexual orientation, or other protected characteristics. If a tenant believes a landlord or property manager has violated this provision — for example, by restricting access to a common facility — options can include filing a complaint with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations, which enforces the city's human rights ordinance. Tenant-rights organizations in Chicago can also help individuals understand what documentation may be useful and what processes are available under § 6-10-070.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated October 14, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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