West Chicago — Ch. 7 Housing § 7-26
Definitions
Operative Text
Bedroom. A bedroom is defined as a segregated and separate room or space used or intended to be used for sleeping purposes and delineated by four (4) fixed walls and a door containing a minimum of at least seventy (70) square feet of floor area for a single occupant and at least fifty (50) square feet of floor area for two (2) or more occupants thereof, for the health, safety and welfare of the residents of West Chicago, excepting studios. It shall be prohibited to occupy any residence that fails to satisfy the minimal floor area set forth herein for any residential occupancy. Bedroom requirements. Minimum height of the ceiling shall be seven (7) feet. In addition to that described elsewhere in this Code, basement bedrooms must have an escape window well as described herein. An escape window well with a sill height over forty-four (44) inches, but less than fifty-four (54) inches below the adjacent ground level shall have a step permanently attached to the floor or wall directly in front of the escape window well with a minimum size of two (2) feet by two (2) feet not to exceed ten (10) inches in height. Furthermore, the escape window well shall have horizontal dimensions that allow the window to be fully opened. The escape window shall have an accessible and clear opening of not less than nine (9) square feet and a minimum height of thirty-six (36) inches and a minimum width of thirty-three (33) inches. Over occupancy. Over occupancy is defined in a residential dwelling unit as any qualified bedroom occupied by one (1) person which does not consist of at least seventy (70) square feet of floor area and any qualified bedroom occupied by more than one (1) person which does not consist of at least fifty (50) square feet of floor area for each occupant thereof. Prohibited sleeping areas. Prohibited sleeping areas are defined as kitchens, and other non-habitable areas, as well as living rooms, dining rooms and other rooms which are not designated or qualified as bedrooms, as defined and qualified herein, which shall not be used for sleeping purposes.
West Chicago Ch. 7 Housing § 7-26 establishes what legally qualifies as a bedroom in the city, setting minimum floor area requirements (70 square feet for a single occupant, 50 square feet for two or more), ceiling height of at least 7 feet, and specific egress window standards for basement bedrooms. The provision also defines 'over occupancy' as any sleeping arrangement that falls short of these floor-area thresholds, and it explicitly prohibits using kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, and other non-habitable spaces as sleeping areas. Occupying any residence that does not meet these minimums is expressly prohibited under this section.
Plain English — not legal advice.
Under West Chicago Ch. 7 Housing § 7-26, compliant operators generally ensure that any room marketed or rented as a bedroom meets the defined minimums: at least 70 square feet for a single occupant or 50 square feet per occupant for shared rooms, a ceiling height of no less than 7 feet, and four fixed walls with a door. Landlords with basement bedrooms typically verify that egress window wells meet the dimensional and accessibility standards spelled out in this section, including step requirements where sill heights fall between 44 and 54 inches below grade. Operators also take care that lease agreements and unit configurations do not direct or permit tenants to sleep in kitchens, living rooms, dining rooms, or other areas that do not qualify as bedrooms under this definition.
General guidance for property managers — not legal advice for your specific situation. Consult an attorney for advice on your case.
West Chicago Ch. 7 Housing § 7-26 gives tenants a clear standard for evaluating whether the room they are renting as a bedroom actually meets the city's legal definition, including minimum square footage, ceiling height, and — for basement units — specific egress window requirements. If a rented space falls short of these standards, that non-compliance may be raised as a concern with local housing or code enforcement authorities in West Chicago. Tenant-rights organizations familiar with Illinois housing code can help residents understand how the definitions in § 7-26 apply to their living situation and what complaint or reporting options may be available.
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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