Chicago's Heat Ordinance: Minimum Temperatures Landlords Must Provide

A cold apartment in a Chicago winter isn't just uncomfortable — it can be dangerous. The city's heat ordinance sets a hard minimum indoor temperature landlords must maintain during the coldest months, backed by real fines. This guide covers exactly what's required and what to do if your unit isn't getting heat.

This is educational information, not legal advice.

When the heat ordinance is in effect

Chicago's heat ordinance — enforced by the Department of Buildings as part of the Chicago Building Code — applies from September 15 through June 1 each year, covering the full stretch of cold-weather months, not just the deepest winter.

The minimum temperatures required

During that period, where the landlord supplies heat or controls the heating equipment for a unit, the ordinance requires the indoor temperature to be maintained at no less than:

• 68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m.
• 66°F from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m.

For buildings where each unit has its own individual heating equipment, that equipment generally must be capable of providing at least 68°F during the heat season, even if the tenant controls their own thermostat.

The penalty for landlords who don't comply

The heat ordinance carries real financial consequences: landlords who fail to supply adequate heat can face fines of up to $1,000 per day, per violation, for every day the unit isn't properly heated. That's a significant deterrent, and it reflects how seriously the city treats heat as a basic health-and-safety issue, not a comfort preference.

How this is different from your RLTO repair rights

The heat ordinance is a Building Code requirement that applies broadly, separate from the RLTO's own tenant remedies. If your unit is also covered by the RLTO, a loss of heat is treated as a loss of an "essential service" under Municipal Code of Chicago § 5-12-110, which can give you the right to withhold rent after a relatively short window without correction, and to terminate the lease if the problem continues. See our repair and habitability guide for how that RLTO remedy works, and confirm current notice periods before withholding rent — that's a step worth getting right.

What to do if you have no heat

• Document it. Note the date, time, and indoor temperature (a simple thermometer works) whenever the unit falls below the required minimum.
• Notify your landlord in writing. Our repair request letter template can be adapted for a heat complaint — it's exactly the kind of dated, written notice you want on record.
• Call 311. The City of Chicago's 311 system takes heat complaints and can trigger a Department of Buildings inspection.
• Know your RLTO options. If your unit is RLTO-covered, a continued loss of heat may allow you to withhold rent or pursue other remedies under § 5-12-110 — confirm the current requirements before acting.

Frequently asked questions

What months does the Chicago heat ordinance cover?

September 15 through June 1 each year — a longer window than just the winter months.

What's the minimum temperature my landlord has to maintain?

68°F from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., and 66°F from 10:30 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., where the landlord supplies or controls the heat.

What if I control my own thermostat?

If your unit has individual heating equipment you control, the requirement generally shifts to whether that equipment is capable of reaching the required minimum temperature — not whether you personally keep it turned up. If the equipment itself can't reach 68°F, that's still a potential violation.

What can I do besides calling 311?

Document the problem in writing to your landlord, and if your unit is RLTO-covered, look into your rent-withholding and termination rights for loss of an essential service under MCC § 5-12-110 — see our repair and habitability guide.

Not sure whether your building falls under the RLTO's tenant remedies on top of the heat ordinance? See our guide on what the RLTO covers.