Evanston, Ill., City Code tit. 5 (2026) § 5-3-4-3
ACCESS (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
(A) The tenant shall not unreasonably withhold consent to the housing provider to enter the dwelling unit in order to: inspect the premises, make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations or improvements (including where such work elsewhere in the building requires such access),, supply necessary or agreed services, show the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers, mortgagees, or workers, or show the dwelling unit to prospective tenants ninety (90) days or less prior to the expiration of the existing rental agreement. (B) The housing provider may enter the dwelling unit without consent of the tenant in case of emergency. (C) The housing provider shall not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. Except in cases of emergency, or unless it is impracticable to do so, the housing provider shall give the tenant at least two (2) days' notice of the housing provider's intent to enter and may enter only at reasonable times. An entry between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. or at any other time expressly requested by the tenant shall be presumed reasonable. The housing provider shall provide this written notice directly to each dwelling unit by mail, telephone, or written notice or by other reasonable means designed in good faith to provide written notice to the tenant. If access is required because of repair work for common facilities or multiple apartments, a general written notice may be given by the housing provider to all potentially affected tenants that entry may be required. In cases where access is authorized due to an emergency the housing provider shall give the tenant written notice of entry within two (2) days after such entry.
Evanston City Code § 5-3-4-3 establishes a mutual framework governing when and how a housing provider may enter a rented dwelling unit. Tenants are expected not to unreasonably refuse entry for legitimate purposes such as inspections, repairs, or showings, while housing providers are prohibited from abusing access rights or using them to harass. Outside of emergencies, at least two days' advance notice is required, entry must occur at reasonable times (presumptively 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.), and notice must be delivered directly to the unit by mail, phone, written notice, or another good-faith method. Emergency entries are permitted without prior consent, but the housing provider must provide written notice of that entry within two days afterward.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 5-3-4-3, compliant housing providers generally document and deliver advance notice of at least two days before entering a unit for inspections, repairs, showings, or similar purposes, using mail, telephone, written notice, or another good-faith communication method. Entry is typically scheduled between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. unless the tenant specifically requests another time. When emergency access is taken without prior notice, operators generally provide written notice to the tenant within two days of that entry, and when repair work affects multiple units or common areas, a general written notice to all potentially affected tenants is an accepted practice under this provision.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 5-3-4-3 gives tenants in Evanston the right to expect at least two days' written notice before a housing provider enters their unit for non-emergency purposes, and to have that entry occur only at reasonable times. The provision also explicitly prohibits housing providers from abusing access rights or using entry as a means of harassment, which tenants may raise as a violation if a pattern of improper entry occurs. Tenants who believe their housing provider has violated these access rules may consider contacting the City of Evanston's relevant housing or code enforcement office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for information about available remedies.
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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