Park Forest — Ch. 18 Art. III Housing § 18-289
Space, use and location
Operative Text
No person shall occupy or let to another for occupancy any dwelling or dwelling unit for the purpose of living therein which does not comply with the following: (1) No more than three individuals shall occupy a one-bedroom dwelling unit. (2) A maximum of two individuals, except as provided in subsection (3) of this section, shall be allowed for each additional bedroom in the dwelling unit. (3) The minimum size bedroom for two individuals shall not be less than 90 square feet of floor area. Additional individuals may be included in a bedroom when the total floor area for the first two individuals is at least 150 square feet and provided that an additional 50 square feet is allotted for each additional individual. (4) The only access to a bathroom or water closet compartment from a sleeping room shall not be through another sleeping room, nor shall the only access to a sleeping room be through another sleeping room or a bathroom or water closet compartment. (5) At least one-half of the floor area of every habitable room shall have a ceiling height of at least 7½ feet; and the floor area of that part of any room where the ceiling height is less than five feet shall not be considered as part of the floor area in computing the total floor area of the room for the purpose of determining the maximum permissible occupancy thereof. (6) No cellar space shall be used as a sleeping room or dwelling unit. (7) No basement space shall be used as a habitable room or dwelling unit unless: a. The floor and walls are impervious to leakage of underground and surface runoff water and are insulated against dampness; b. The total of window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum window area sizes as required in subsection 18-288 (1); c. Such required minimum window area is located entirely above the grade of the ground adjoining such window area; and d. The total of openable window area in each room is equal to at least the minimum as required under subsection 18-288 (2), except where there is supplied some other device affording adequate ventilation and approved by the administrative official.
Park Forest Ch. 18 Art. III Housing § 18-289 establishes minimum standards for how dwelling units may be occupied based on bedroom count, room size, layout, ceiling height, and location within a structure. Occupancy limits are tied to bedroom size, with specific square-footage thresholds determining how many people may share a room. The provision also prohibits using cellar space as sleeping quarters and restricts basement use as habitable space unless specific moisture, window, and ventilation conditions are met.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under § 18-289, compliant operators generally track occupancy against bedroom count and floor area, ensuring no one-bedroom unit houses more than three individuals and that each bedroom meets the applicable square-footage thresholds before additional occupants are assigned. Landlords typically verify that sleeping room access does not route through another sleeping room or bathroom, that habitable rooms meet the 7½-foot ceiling-height requirement for at least half their floor area, and that no cellar space is offered as sleeping quarters. Basement units are generally made available only after confirming that floors and walls resist moisture intrusion, window areas meet the cross-references in § 18-288, and ventilation meets the standards approved by the administrative official.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Section § 18-289 gives occupants a right to live in a unit that meets minimum space, layout, and habitability standards, including lawful occupancy limits based on bedroom size and protections against being housed in a cellar or a non-compliant basement. If a unit appears to fall short of these standards—such as inadequate room size for the number of occupants, improper room access routes, or a basement that leaks or lacks proper windows—tenants may have grounds to raise a housing code violation. General enforcement paths can include filing a complaint with the local housing or code enforcement authority in Park Forest or consulting a tenant-rights organization familiar with Illinois municipal housing codes.
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 9, 2026 — auto-generated, not yet human-reviewed. See /transparency for methodology.
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