Municipal Code of Chicago tit. 8, ch. 8-30 — EVICTIONS FOR UNLAWFUL USE OF PREMISES | Municipal Code of Chicago (2026 S-74, current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026) — City of Chicago

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-30-010 Definitions.

8-30-010 Definitions. Whenever used in this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings: (a) "Controlled substances" means any substance as defined and included in the Schedules of Article II of the Illinois Controlled Substances Act, and cannabis as defined in the Cannabis Control Act. (b) "Controlled substance violation" means any occurrence of unlawful possession, delivery, distribution, manufacture or cultivation of a controlled substance. (c) "Department" means the department of law. (d) "Dwelling unit" means a structure or the part of a structure that is used as a home, residence or sleeping place by one or more persons who maintain a household. (e) "Landlord" means the owner, agent, lessor or sublessor, or the successor in interest of any of them, of a dwelling unit or the building of which it is part, other than a unit of federal, state or local government. (f) "Owner" means one or more persons, jointly or severally, in whom is vested all or part of the legal title to property, or all or part of the beneficial ownership and a right to present use and enjoyment of the premises, including a mortgagee in possession. (g) "Pattern of controlled substance violations" means two or more controlled substance violation instances involving the same dwelling unit and occurring on two or more separate days within any six month period during the tenancy of any tenant of the dwelling unit. Violations will be considered to be involving the same dwelling unit if they: (1) occur in the dwelling unit, in the structure containing the dwelling unit, or any other structure, land or public way appurtenant thereto, and (2) are committed by a tenant of the dwelling unit or by an individual who is on the premises with the permission of the tenant of the dwelling unit. (h) "Premises" means the dwelling unit and the structure of which it is a part, and facilities and appurtenances therein, and grounds, areas and facilities held out for the use of tenants. (i) "Rental agreement" means all written or oral agreements embodying the terms and conditions concerning the use and occupancy of a dwelling unit by a tenant. (j) "Tenant" means a person entitled by written or oral agreement, subtenancy approved by the landlord or by sufferance, to occupy a dwelling unit to the exclusion of others. (Added Coun. J. 8-30-00, p. 40306, § 6)

Municipal Code of Chicago § 8-30-020 Unlawful use of leased premises - Evictions.

8-30-020 Unlawful use of leased premises - Evictions. (a) The department, on behalf of the city, or the Chicago Housing Authority on its own behalf, may bring an eviction proceeding pursuant to Section 2-14-200 of this Code whenever there is cause to believe that a tenant is subject to eviction under this chapter. In any case in which a pattern of controlled substance violations is proven by a preponderance of the evidence, the tenants of the dwelling unit involved are in violation of this section and an order of eviction shall be issued against those tenants. The order of eviction shall cause the forfeiture of and terminate the rights of the tenant to use or occupy the dwelling unit pursuant to the rental agreement. Any tenant who has been served with an order of eviction shall be deemed to have abandoned the dwelling unit, as provided in subsection 5-12-130(e) of this Code, as of the effective date of the order. (b) In any eviction proceeding the landlord shall be made a party to the proceeding. Whenever a tenant is found to be in violation of this section, the landlord shall be liable for the cost of the eviction proceeding and the service and enforcement of the order of eviction in an amount not to exceed $5,000.00, plus any fees payable to the Sheriff's Police of the County of Cook for services rendered in connection with the proceeding. (Added Coun. J. 8-30-00, p. 40306, § 6)