Oak Park Title 12 Residential Rental Licensing (Arts. 2, 4, 6) § 12-6-13
PROHIBITION AGAINST LOCKOUTS
Operative Text
A. The landlord, or any person acting at the direction of the landlord, shall not oust or dispossess, or threaten or attempt to oust or dispossess, any tenant from a dwelling unit without authority of law, by plugging, changing, adding or removing any lock or latching device; or by blocking any entrance into said dwelling unit; or by removing any door or window from said dwelling unit; or by interfering with the services to the dwelling unit, including but not limited to electricity, gas, hot or cold water, plumbing, heat, telephone service, or internet; or by removing a tenant's personal property from said dwelling unit; or by the removal or incapacitating of appliances or fixtures, except for the purpose of making necessary repairs; or by the use or threat of force, violence or injury to a tenant's person or property; or by any act rendering a dwelling unit or any part thereof, or any personal property located therein, inaccessible or uninhabitable. The foregoing shall not apply where:
1. A landlord acts in compliance with the eviction laws of Illinois pertaining to forcible entry and detainer and engages the Sheriff of Cook County to forcibly evict a tenant or their personal property; or
2. A landlord interferes temporarily with possession only as necessary to make needed repairs or inspection and only as provided by law; or
3. The landlord acts in compliance with the laws of Illinois pertaining to distress for rent, including, but not limited to section 9-301 et seq. ("Distress for Rent") of the Illinois Code of Civil Procedure, 735 Illinois Compiled Statutes 5/9-301 et. seq., for the removal of personal property; or
4. The tenant has abandoned the dwelling unit, as prescribed in section 12-6-9 (B)(2).
B. If a tenant, in a civil legal proceeding against the landlord, establishes that the landlord has violated section 12-6-13 , the tenant shall be entitled to recover possession of the dwelling unit and personal property. In addition, the tenant shall recover an amount equal to not more than two (2) months' rent or twice the actual damages sustained by the tenant, whichever is greater, and reasonable attorney's fees. (Ord. 21-60, 7-19-2021)Oak Park Title 12 § 12-6-13 prohibits landlords and anyone acting on their behalf from removing or locking out a tenant without legal authority. Covered acts include changing locks, blocking entrances, removing doors or windows, cutting off utilities, removing personal property, and any other act that makes a unit inaccessible or uninhabitable. Narrow exceptions exist for lawful court-ordered evictions, necessary repairs, distress-for-rent proceedings, or situations where a tenant has legally abandoned the unit.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 12-6-13, compliant operators in Oak Park rely exclusively on formal legal processes—such as a Cook County Sheriff-enforced eviction order—before taking any action that could restrict a tenant's access to their unit. Operators generally document all repair-related service interruptions carefully and keep them as brief as possible, since temporary interference is only permitted when necessary for repairs and authorized by law. Cutting utilities, removing locks, or taking any self-help eviction measure outside these narrow exceptions exposes a landlord to civil liability including up to two months' rent or twice actual damages, plus attorney's fees.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section 12-6-13 of Oak Park Title 12 gives tenants the right to remain in their dwelling unit free from self-help eviction tactics such as lock changes, utility shutoffs, or removal of personal property. If a landlord violates this provision, a tenant may pursue a civil legal proceeding to recover possession of the unit and personal property, as well as monetary damages of up to two months' rent or twice actual damages—whichever is greater—along with reasonable attorney's fees. Tenant-rights organizations and legal aid services can help identify which enforcement or court options may be available under § 12-6-13.
General guidance for tenants — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult a tenant-rights organization or attorney for advice on your case.
Generated November 10, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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