Evanston, Ill., City Code tit. 5 (2026) § 5-7-9
INCENTIVES (Evanston Housing Regulations)
Operative Text
For a compliant covered development that provides on-site inclusionary housing units, the City will provide the following incentives: (A) Fee Waiver. City-required building permit fees for the inclusionary housing units and a proportional share of the common areas will be waived, capped at thirty-five (35) percent of building permit fees, as stipulated in the policies and procedures. No waiver from payment of any other fees will be provided, including but not limited to right-of-way fees, demolition fees, or fees related to the commercial portion(s) of the covered development. (B) Fee Deferral. The remaining City-required building permit fees will be deferred for payment until the application for the first temporary certificate of occupancy for a covered, market-rate unit. No deferral from payment of any other fees will be provided, including but not limited to right-of-way fees, demolition fees, and fees related to the commercial portion(s) of the development. (C) Zoning Incentives. Any zoning bonuses for covered developments that provide inclusionary housing units on-site are addressed in Title 6 --Zoning.
Evanston City Code § 5-7-9 establishes a set of financial and zoning incentives available to covered developments that include on-site inclusionary housing units. Building permit fees attributable to those affordable units and a proportional share of common areas may be waived up to 35 percent of total building permit fees, while the remaining permit fees can be deferred until the first temporary certificate of occupancy is issued for a market-rate unit. Additional zoning bonuses tied to on-site inclusionary housing are governed separately under Title 6 of the Evanston City Code.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Developers and property owners pursuing a covered development under § 5-7-9 who choose to provide inclusionary housing units on-site may be eligible for meaningful cost relief in the form of permit fee waivers and deferrals. A compliant operator generally tracks which fees are covered by the waiver—limited to building permit fees for affordable units and proportional common areas, capped at 35 percent—and understands that fees such as right-of-way, demolition, and commercial-portion fees fall outside the incentive. Operators also typically plan their cash flow around the deferral structure, knowing that remaining permit fees come due at the time of the first temporary certificate of occupancy for a market-rate unit, and consult the city's policies and procedures for precise calculations.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
For tenants living in or seeking housing in a covered development, § 5-7-9 reflects Evanston's policy of encouraging developers to create on-site affordable units by reducing their upfront costs through fee waivers and deferrals. Understanding that these incentives are designed to support the production of inclusionary housing units can be useful context when evaluating whether a development is participating in the city's inclusionary housing program. Tenants who have questions about whether a specific building includes inclusionary units or about their rights within such a unit may find it helpful to contact the City of Evanston directly or reach out to a local tenant-rights organization familiar with the city's inclusionary housing policies.
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.
Effective Timeline
References Out
No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.
References In
No inbound references recorded yet for this provision.