Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5 § 5-7-7
SAME—UNIT ATTRIBUTES AND DISTRIBUTION (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
(A) Unit Size. 1. Number of Bedrooms. The unit mix of inclusionary housing units will be in equal proportion to the overall unit mix of covered units within the covered development, as stipulated by the policies and procedures. 2. Area. Inclusionary housing units will be equal to or larger than the smallest covered, market-rate units with the equivalent number of bedrooms within the covered development. 3. Location. Inclusionary housing units will be dispersed among the covered, market-rate dwelling units. (B) Reserved. (C) Appearance And Components. 1. Exterior. The exterior appearance of inclusionary housing units will not differ from the covered, market-rate units in the covered development. 2. Interior. Inclusionary housing units may have different interior appearance and finishes to covered, market-rate units as long as the materials, appliances, and building systems are durable, of good and new quality, and consistent with the current standards for new housing. 3. Energy Efficiency. Standard components of inclusionary housing units related to energy efficiency, including, but not limited to, mechanical equipment and plumbing, insulation, windows, and heating and cooling systems, will not differ from the covered, market-rate units in the covered development. (D) Phased Construction. In a multiphase development, inclusionary housing units will be frontloaded in the initial phase(s) or each phase will include an equal proportion of inclusionary housing units to covered, market-rate units.
Under Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5-7-7, inclusionary housing units in covered developments must match market-rate units in bedroom mix proportions, meet minimum size requirements, be dispersed throughout the building, and share the same exterior appearance and energy-efficiency components. Interior finishes may differ, but materials and appliances must be durable, new, and of good quality. In phased developments, affordable units must either be frontloaded in early phases or distributed proportionally across each phase.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property managers subject to Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5-7-7 generally ensure that inclusionary units mirror the overall bedroom mix of the development, are at least as large as the smallest comparable market-rate units, and are scattered among market-rate dwellings rather than clustered. Compliant operators maintain identical exterior appearances and energy-efficiency systems between inclusionary and market-rate units, while any interior finish differences still meet the code's durability and quality standards. In multiphase projects, operators typically frontload affordable units in early phases or maintain a consistent proportional distribution across all phases.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Evanston, Ill., City Code § 5-7-7 establishes that tenants in inclusionary housing units are entitled to units that are proportionally sized, adequately dispersed, and outwardly indistinguishable from market-rate units in the same development. Energy-efficiency systems must be equivalent to those in market-rate units, and any interior differences must still meet durability and quality standards. Tenants who believe their unit does not conform to these requirements may consider contacting the City of Evanston's housing or community development office, or reaching out to a local tenant-rights organization for general information about available options.
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.
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