Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-83

Disability

In Force
Verified 11/10/2026 · Next check 12/10/2026
RockfordReasonable Accommodations/Modifications

Operative Text

Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-83
(a) It is unlawful to refuse to sell or rent or to otherwise make unavailable or deny a dwelling to any buyer or renter because of a disability of that buyer or renter, a disability of a person residing or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available or a disability of any person associated with the buyer or renter.
(b) It is unlawful to alter the terms, conditions or privileges of sale or rental of a dwelling or the provision of services or facilities in connection with such dwelling because of a person's disability or a disability of any person residing or intending to reside in that dwelling after it is sold, rented or made available, or a disability of any person associated with that person.
(c) It is unlawful:
(1) To refuse to permit, at the expense of the disabled person, reasonable modifications of existing premises occupied or to be occupied by such person if such modifications may be necessary to afford such person full enjoyment of the premises; except that, in the case of a rental, the landlord may, where it is reasonable to do so, condition permission for a modification on the renter agreeing to restore the interior of the premises to the condition that existed before modifications, reasonable wear and tear excepted. The landlord may not increase for disabled persons any customarily required security deposit. However, where it is necessary in order to ensure with reasonable certainty that funds will be available to pay for the restorations at the end of the tenancy, the landlord may negotiate, as part of such a restoration agreement, a provision requiring that the tenant pay into an interest bearing escrow account, over a reasonable period, a reasonable amount of money not to exceed the cost of the restorations. The interest in any such account shall accrue to the benefit of the tenant. A landlord may condition permission for a modification on the renter providing a reasonable description of the proposed modifications as well as reasonable assurances that the work will be done in a workmanlike manner and that any required building permits will be obtained;
(2) To refuse to make reasonable accommodations in rules, policies, practices, or services, when such accommodations may be necessary to afford such person equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling; or
(3) In connection with the design and construction of covered multifamily dwellings for first occupancy after March 13, 1991, to fail to design and construct those dwellings in such a manner that:
a. The public use and common use portions of such dwellings are readily accessible to and usable by disabled persons;
b. All the doors designed to allow passage into and within all premises within such dwellings are sufficiently wide to allow passage by disabled persons in wheelchairs; and
c. All premises within such dwellings contain the following features of adaptive design:
1. An accessible route into and through the dwelling;
2. Light switches, electrical outlets, thermostats, and other environmental controls in accessible locations;
3. Reinforcements in bathroom walls to allow later installation of grab bars; and
4. Usable kitchens and bathrooms such that an individual in a wheelchair can maneuver about the space.
(d) Nothing in this section requires that a dwelling be made available to an individual whose tenancy would constitute a direct threat to the health or safety of others or would result in substantial physical damage to the property of others.
Source: Legislative text reproduced verbatim
Plain English

Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-83 prohibits housing providers from refusing to sell or rent a dwelling, changing its terms, or denying services to someone on the basis of disability — whether the disability belongs to the buyer, renter, a future resident, or an associated person. The provision also requires that landlords allow tenants with disabilities to make reasonable modifications at their own expense, and that housing providers make reasonable accommodations in rules or policies so that disabled persons have equal opportunity to use and enjoy their homes. Multifamily dwellings built for first occupancy after March 13, 1991 must meet specific accessible-design standards, though the rule does not protect tenancies that would pose a direct threat to others' health, safety, or property.

Written by anthropic/claude-sonnet-4.6 · Reviewed on November 9, 2026

Plain English — not legal advice.

For Property Managers

Under Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-83, compliant housing operators treat disability as a protected characteristic at every stage of the rental or sale process, from advertising through lease terms and service delivery. When a tenant with a disability requests a reasonable modification, operators generally permit the work at the tenant's expense and may require a written description, proof of workmanlike execution, and permit compliance; they may also negotiate a restoration agreement backed by an interest-bearing escrow account, but they do not increase the standard security deposit for disabled tenants. Operators of covered multifamily properties built after March 13, 1991 also maintain records demonstrating that design and construction met the accessibility standards enumerated in the provision.

General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.

For Tenants

Rockford — Part I Ch. 11 Human Rights § 11-83 gives tenants and prospective buyers with disabilities the right to be free from discriminatory refusals, altered terms, and denial of services based on disability. If a landlord refuses a reasonable modification or accommodation request, that refusal may constitute a violation of this provision, and tenants can document the request and response as a potential basis for a complaint. Enforcement options can include filing a complaint with the Rockford Human Rights Commission or a relevant fair-housing agency, and tenant-rights organizations can help explain the range of available paths.

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.

Effective Timeline

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References Out

No outbound references recorded yet for this provision.

References In

Rules and statutes that cite this regulation

IL Muni § 11-122
IL Muni § 11-1
IL Muni § 11-101
IL Muni § 11-123
IL Muni § 11-82
IL Muni § 11-105
IL Muni § 11-1

Related Rules

§ 966.7
§ 966.7 Accommodation of persons with disabilities.
§ 982.316
§ 982.316 Live-in aide.
§ 2.6
Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990

Source Information

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