Waukegan — Ch. 12 Human Relations § 12-41
Human relations subcommittee procedures
Operative Text
(a) Filing of complaint. Any person aggrieved in any manner by an act prohibited by section 12-28 may file a written complaint setting forth his grievance with the community enrichment board. The chairman of the board shall present the complaint to the human relations subcommittee for investigation, hearing and report. Such complaint must be filed within 30 days of the commission of the prohibited act and shall state the name and address of the complainant and of the person against whom the complaint is brought and shall also state the alleged facts surrounding the prohibited act. (b) Investigation of complaint. After the filing of any complaint with the human relations subcommittee, or upon referral by the city council of any matter pursuant to this article, the human relations subcommittee shall investigate the complaint or matter. If, after such investigation, the subcommittee determines that there is probable cause to establish the existence of a violation of section 12-28 , the subcommittee shall endeavor to eliminate the alleged violation by conference, conciliation and persuasion. (c) Notice of hearing. In case of failure to eliminate such alleged violation or in advance thereof, if in the human relations subcommittee's judgment circumstances so warrant, it shall send a notice of hearing and a copy of such complaint, or a description of the alleged prohibited act if no complaint has been filed, to all parties. Any real estate broker or other person charged with a prohibited act under section 12-28 shall have the right to file an answer, and he and the complainant may appear at the hearing in person or be represented by counsel and submit testimony. (d) Hearing; recommendations. Such hearing shall be conducted by the human relations subcommittee. The subcommittee shall not be bound by the strict rules of evidence. The subcommittee shall have power to administer oaths and to take sworn testimony. No report shall be delayed more than 60 days after the date of the issuance of notice of or commencement of the first hearing. At the conclusion of the hearing, the subcommittee shall file with the chairman of the community enrichment board a written report of its findings and conclusions, including recommendations, if any, regarding: (1) The filing of a complaint with the state department of registration and education, against any real estate broker found to have committed a prohibited act under section 12-28 , seeking suspension or revocation of the license issued to such broker by the state. (2) The filing of suit against any person found to have committed an act prohibited by section 12-28 . (e) Distribution of report. Upon receipt of the human relations subcommittee's report described in subsection (d) of this section, the chairman of the community enrichment board shall file with the city council and mail to the parties the subcommittee's report. The board shall not have the power to adjust or amend the report.
Waukegan Ch. 12 § 12-41 establishes the step-by-step process for handling complaints about acts prohibited under § 12-28 of the Human Relations chapter. A written complaint must be filed with the Community Enrichment Board within 30 days of the alleged prohibited act, after which the Human Relations Subcommittee investigates, attempts conciliation, and — if necessary — holds a formal hearing. At the conclusion of that process, the subcommittee submits a written report to the Community Enrichment Board chairman, who forwards it to the city council and the parties; the report may include recommendations such as referring a real estate broker to the state for license action or filing suit against a violator.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Property owners, managers, and real estate brokers operating in Waukegan should be aware that under § 12-41, a complaint alleging a violation of § 12-28 can trigger a formal subcommittee investigation, a conciliation attempt, and — if unresolved — a noticed hearing at which they have the right to file a written answer and appear with or without counsel. Operators who are found to have committed a prohibited act may face a subcommittee recommendation for civil suit or, in the case of licensed brokers, referral to the state for possible license suspension or revocation. Maintaining clear records of all transactions and communications related to § 12-28 obligations is a practice consistent with being prepared to respond to any complaint filed under this section.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
Under Waukegan Ch. 12 § 12-41, any person who believes they have been harmed by an act prohibited under § 12-28 has the right to file a written complaint with the Community Enrichment Board, but must do so within 30 days of the alleged prohibited act. The complaint must include the names and addresses of both parties and a description of the alleged facts, after which the Human Relations Subcommittee will investigate and may attempt to resolve the matter through conciliation before proceeding to a formal hearing. Tenants who believe their rights under § 12-28 have been violated may wish to consult a tenant-rights organization or legal aid provider to understand the complaint process and the options available to them.
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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