Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-3-4-1
MAINTAIN DWELLING UNIT (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
The tenant shall: (A) Comply with all obligations imposed upon tenants by provisions of the codes applicable to the dwelling unit; (B) Keep that part of the premises that the tenant occupies and uses as safe as the condition of the premises permits; (C) Dispose of all ashes, rubbish, garbage and other waste from the dwelling unit in a clean and safe manner; (D) Keep all plumbing fixtures in the dwelling unit or used by the tenant as clean as their condition permits; (E) Use in a reasonable manner all electrical, plumbing, sanitary, heating, ventilating, air conditioning and other facilities and appliances, including elevators, in the premises; (F) Not willfully or negligently destroy, deface, damage, impair or remove any part of the premises or knowingly permit any person to do so; (G) Act and require other persons on the premises with the tenant's consent to act in a manner that will not disturb the tenant's neighbor's peaceful enjoyment of the premises; and (H) Not engage in or permit: the unlawful selling, possession, serving, storage, deliverance, manufacture, cultivation, giving away or use of any controlled substance; prostitution; or gambling on the leased premises.
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-3-4-1 sets out a broad set of maintenance and conduct obligations that fall on tenants rather than landlords. The rule requires tenants to keep their unit and shared fixtures clean and safe, dispose of waste properly, use building systems reasonably, and avoid damaging the property. It also prohibits tenants from disturbing neighbors or allowing illegal activity—such as controlled-substance offenses, prostitution, or gambling—on the leased premises.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-3-4-1, compliant property operators typically document the condition of a unit at move-in and move-out to establish a baseline against which tenant-caused damage or neglect can be measured. Lease agreements commonly incorporate these tenant obligations by reference, making violations a potential basis for lease enforcement. Operators generally keep records of any complaints about noise, illegal activity, or waste disposal that may implicate a tenant's duties under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-3-4-1 outlines the affirmative duties tenants owe regarding cleanliness, safe use of the premises, neighbor relations, and lawful conduct. Tenants who believe a landlord is attempting to use an alleged violation of this section unfairly—for example, as a pretext for eviction—may have the ability to raise compliance as a defense in any resulting proceeding. Tenant-rights organizations in Evanston can help residents understand how these obligations interact with their broader rights under the city's residential landlord-tenant ordinance.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated September 18, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.