Des Plaines CHAPTER 17 RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES USED FOR RENTALS § 4-17-2
REGISTRATION OF GROUP HOMES
Operative Text
A. Definition: For the purposes of this section, "group home" shall mean a living arrangement certified by a community mental health or developmental services agency where eight (8) or fewer persons with a mental illness or with a developmental disability reside together under the supervision of the agency. A group home shall be equivalent in all respects to a "community-integrated living arrangement" as defined in the community-integrated living arrangements licensure and certification act 1 . B. Registration Required; Application: Group homes that are licensed by the state of Illinois pursuant to the community- integrated living arrangements licensure and certification act 2 shall be exempt from the licensing requirements of this chapter, and any other licensing provisions of this title, but shall be required to register as a place of business in accordance with the processes set forth in chapter 1 of this title. In addition to the application requirements set forth in chapter 1 of this title, any person seeking to operate a group home in the city will be required to provide proof that they hold a current and valid license to operate the group home issued by the state of Illinois. C. Exemption From Business Registration Fee: Any state licensed group home seeking to register its place of business shall be exempt from any registration fee otherwise charged by the city. (Ord. M-19-13, 10-7-2013) Notes 1 1. 210 ILCS 135/3. 2 2. 210 ILCS 135/1 et seq.
Des Plaines § 4-17-2 establishes a specific registration framework for group homes — defined as state-certified living arrangements housing eight or fewer individuals with mental illness or developmental disabilities under agency supervision. Such homes licensed by Illinois under the Community-Integrated Living Arrangements Licensure and Certification Act (210 ILCS 135/1 et seq.) are exempt from the city's standard rental licensing requirements but must still register as a place of business. Notably, qualifying group homes are also exempt from paying any city business registration fee.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of group homes in Des Plaines should be aware that § 4-17-2 carves out a distinct compliance path from the standard rental licensing process. A compliant operator of a state-licensed group home maintains a current and valid Illinois state license, submits a business registration application under Chapter 1 of the city's code, and provides proof of that state license as part of the registration process. Because the fee exemption applies automatically to qualifying group homes under § 4-17-2, operators generally do not remit a registration fee when completing this process.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Residents of group homes in Des Plaines benefit from the framework established under § 4-17-2, which requires that any such home be registered with the city and hold a valid Illinois state license — providing a layer of oversight beyond standard rental housing. If a group home appears to be operating without proper state licensure or city registration, residents or their advocates may raise this as a concern with the city or the relevant Illinois state licensing authority. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with disability housing law can help residents of group homes understand what protections and oversight mechanisms apply to their living arrangement 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 11, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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