Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-7-12
HOUSEHOLD ELIGIBILITY (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
(A) Income Certification. The Department or contracted agency will certify households for specific inclusionary housing units, as stipulated in the policies and procedures. (B) Primary Residence. An inclusionary housing unit, both rental and for-sale, must be used by the income-certified household as their primary residence. (C) Local Preference. Priority for an inclusionary housing unit will be given to income-certified households who are Evanston residents, attend school or work in Evanston, and/or lived in Evanston in the past three (3) years. Additional details are stipulated in the policies and procedures.
Under Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-7-12, inclusionary housing units may only be occupied by households that have been income-certified by the City's Department or a contracted agency. Both rental and for-sale inclusionary units must serve as the certified household's primary residence. The provision also establishes a local preference, giving priority to households with current or recent ties to Evanston—such as living, working, or attending school there within the past three years.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Operators of properties subject to Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-7-12 generally work with the City Department or its contracted agency to confirm that prospective occupants of inclusionary units have received proper income certification before move-in. Compliant operators verify that each inclusionary unit is used as the occupant's primary residence and do not permit those units to be used as secondary or investment properties. Familiarity with the local preference priority rules—favoring current and recent Evanston residents, workers, and students—helps operators coordinate with the certifying agency during the leasing or sales process.
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 § 5-7-12 establishes that access to inclusionary housing units depends on income certification through the City Department or a contracted agency, so households interested in these units can begin by contacting that agency to understand the certification process. The provision's local preference rules mean that current or recent ties to Evanston—such as residency, employment, or school enrollment within the past three years—may improve a household's priority standing. Tenants or applicants who believe they were improperly denied certification or priority consideration may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or review the City's published policies and procedures for additional guidance on 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 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.