The Mayor’s Proposal
On June 29, 2026, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson introduced the Protecting Renters Ordinance (PRO), which would codify a tenant bill of rights that duplicates or complicates existing landlord-tenant law. PRO would also:
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Implement “just cause” eviction regulations, delineating a narrow set of circumstances for which an owner can terminate a tenancy due to resident noncompliance—which, in practice, eliminates the housing provider’s right to nonrenew a lease contract. In circumstances where the resident must vacate the unit, but is deemed to be not “at fault” (including nonrenewal and condominium conversions), the housing provider must provide a relocation assistance fee of 5-10 months’ rent or $5,000-10,000;
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Create a rental registry, which would entail new fees, paperwork and inspections that add to the cost of doing business and, ultimately, the cost of rent;
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Expand financial penalties for housing providers by imposing city penalties and administrative mechanisms for alleged violations that have been historically addressed through civil remedies; and
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Restrictions on fees that are not specifically mentioned in the ordinance and written disclosure of those fees.
“PRO would discourage investment in new housing, slow down construction, and make it harder to maintain existing buildings,” said Michael Mini, EVP of the Chicagoland Apartment Association (CAA). “That means fewer options, older units, and rising rents across Chicago.”
The City Council’s Response
Less than a month after the mayor’s office released their proposal, several city council members introduced their own legislation, the Fair Accountability in Rentals (FAIR) Ordinance.
The FAIR Ordinance removes several of the most extreme elements of PRO, such as the “just cause” eviction requirements and mandatory relocation assistance, but it still would represent a stark expansion of the city’s rental housing regulations. The proposal limits security deposits and fees, establishes a rental registry and adds new and complicated notice and disclosure requirements regarding several lease provisions such as security deposits and termination of tenancy.
What’s Next
PRO is set to be reviewed by the Housing Committee on September 16, 2026, and the FAIR Ordinance will be reviewed by the Zoning Committee on September 22, 2026. If the committees hold a vote on the bills, they could be discussed at the full City Council meeting on September 23, 2026.
Deeper Dive
As housing affordability remains a prominent political issue nationwide, many lawmakers are responding with unsustainable proposals to expand regulation of the industry. The National Apartment Association (NAA) continues to advocate for lasting, meaningful housing affordability solutions that balance a healthy relationship between housing providers and their residents while addressing the root cause of the housing crisis: a lack of housing supply.
NAA is grateful for the ongoing advocacy efforts of CAA to explain to lawmakers how these proposals could damage the rental housing industry, and we will continue to support our affiliate partners across the country as they advocate for housing solutions at the state and local level.
For more timely updates on the industry’s advocacy and legal news, register for NAA’s monthly Advocacy and Legal Webinar (ALW) series and tune in every third Wednesday of the month at 2 pm ET. This webinar is exclusively for NAA members and affiliate partners.