Chillicothe — Ch. 50 Human Rights § 50-104

Discrimination against handicapped persons

In Force
Verified 11/10/2026 · Next check 12/10/2026
ChillicotheReasonable Accommodations/Modifications

Operative Text

Chillicothe — Ch. 50 Human Rights § 50-104
(a) It is unlawful to refuse to sell or rent or to otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a handicap of that buyer or renter, a handicap of a person residing or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available, or a handicap of any person associated with the buyer or renter.
(b) It is unlawful to alter the terms, conditions or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or the provision of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling because of a person's handicap or a handicap of any person residing or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available, or a handicap of any person associated with that person.
(c) It is unlawful to:
(1) Refuse to permit, at the expense of the handicapped person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises; except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before modifications, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The landlord may not increase for handicapped persons any customarily required security deposit. However, where it is necessary in order to ensure with reasonable certainty that funds will be available to pay for the restoration at the end of the tenancy, the landlord may negotiate as part of such a restoration agreement a provision requiring that the tenant pay into an interest-bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a reasonable amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restoration. The interest in any such account shall accrue to the benefit of the tenant. A landlord may condition permission for a modification on the renter providing a reasonable description of the proposed modifications as well as reasonable assurances that the work will be done in a workmanlike manner and that any required building permits will be obtained;
(2) Refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; or
(3) In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, fail to design and construct those dwellings in such a manner that:
a. The public use and common use portions of such dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by handicapped persons;
b. All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within such dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by handicapped persons in wheelchairs; and
c. All premises within such dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:
1. An accessible route into and through the dwelling;
2. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
3. Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
4. Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
(d) Compliance with the appropriate standards of the Illinois Accessibility Code for adaptable dwelling units suffices to satisfy the requirements of subsection (c)(3)c of this section.
(e) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
State Law reference-- Similar provisions, 775 ILCS 5/3-102.1.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Chillicothe Ch. 50 § 50-104 prohibits housing providers from refusing to sell or rent a dwelling, changing its terms, or denying services to someone because of a disability — whether that disability belongs to the buyer, renter, a future resident, or an associated person. Landlords must allow tenants to make reasonable modifications at their own expense and must make reasonable accommodations in rules or policies so that people with disabilities have equal opportunity to use and enjoy their homes. Newly constructed multifamily buildings first occupied after March 13, 1991 must also meet specific accessibility design standards, and compliance with the Illinois Accessibility Code satisfies those requirements.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 9, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under § 50-104, compliant housing operators apply the same rental terms and conditions to all applicants regardless of disability status and do not increase security deposits for handicapped persons. When a tenant requests a modification, operators generally document the request, confirm the work will be done in a workmanlike manner with required permits, and — for rentals — may negotiate a reasonable restoration agreement backed by an interest-bearing escrow account. Operators of covered multifamily properties built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 ensure that common areas, doorways, and unit interiors meet the accessibility design features outlined in § 50-104(c)(3).

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Section 50-104 gives tenants with disabilities the right to request reasonable modifications to their unit at their own expense and to ask for reasonable accommodations in a landlord's rules or policies so they can fully use and enjoy their home. If a landlord refuses such a request, alters lease terms based on disability, or otherwise violates § 50-104, tenants may raise the violation as a defense in housing proceedings or file a complaint with the appropriate local or state human rights authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Illinois fair housing law can help individuals understand the range of options available under this provision.

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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.

Effective Timeline

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References Out

Rules and statutes cited by this regulation

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

IL Muni § 50-103
IL Muni § 50-101
IL Muni § 50-81
IL Muni § 50-63
IL Muni § 50-82
IL Muni § 50-81
IL Muni § 50-82

Related Rules

§ 966.7
§ 966.7 Accommodation of persons with disabilities.
§ 982.316
§ 982.316 Live-in aide.
§ 2.6
Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Source Information

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