Heat Requirements

Chicago requires landlords to provide heat during the heating season, which runs from October 15 through June 1. The city sets specific minimum temperature requirements: 68°F during the day and 66°F at night. Failure to provide adequate heat is a building code violation and a breach of the RLTO.

Heating Season and Temperature Requirements

Under the Chicago Municipal Code (Section 13-196-410), landlords must maintain a minimum temperature of 68°F during the daytime hours (8:30 AM to 10:30 PM) and 66°F during nighttime hours (10:30 PM to 8:30 AM) from October 15 through June 1. These requirements apply to all habitable rooms in the unit. The temperatures are measured at a point three feet above the floor near the center of the room.

Filing a Heat Complaint

If your apartment is not adequately heated, call 311 or file a complaint through the CHI 311 portal. The City of Chicago Department of Buildings will dispatch an inspector to verify the complaint. If a violation is confirmed, the landlord will be cited and given a deadline to restore heat. For buildings with chronic heat problems, the city can impose escalating fines and take legal action against the landlord.

Tenant Remedies Under the RLTO

Failure to provide adequate heat is a violation of the landlord's obligation to maintain the unit in habitable condition under the RLTO. Tenants may be entitled to a rent reduction proportional to the diminished value of the unit, or they may exercise the repair-and-deduct remedy for heating repairs. In severe cases, tenants may have the right to terminate the lease. Consult a tenant rights attorney before taking action.

Emergency Situations

If you have no heat during extremely cold weather and your landlord is unresponsive, call 311 immediately and request an emergency inspection. The city treats heat complaints as high priority during cold weather. If you are in immediate danger from cold exposure, call 911. Chicago also operates warming centers during extreme cold events — check the city website or call 311 for locations.

Do's & Don'ts

Do

Call 311 every time your apartment falls below the required temperature
Record the temperature in your apartment with a thermometer and document the date and time
Keep a log of all heat outages and complaints filed
Check if your building has a history of heat violations through 311 records
Contact neighbors to file complaints together for greater impact

Don't

Use your oven or stove as a heat source — it is a fire and carbon monoxide hazard
Assume one complaint is enough — file every time the heat fails
Use unvented space heaters, which can cause carbon monoxide poisoning
Accept your landlord's claim that the heating system is too old to fix — they must maintain it
Ignore the problem even if warmer weather is approaching — you have a right to heat through June 1

Helpful Resources

CHI 311 – File a ComplaintVisit →City of Chicago – Building Code ComplaintsVisit →Metropolitan Tenants OrganizationVisit →

Need Help? Call 311 (Chicago Services)

311

Frequently Asked Questions

2 questions answered

From October 15 to June 1, landlords must maintain at least 68°F from 8:30am–10:30pm and 66°F from 10:30pm–8:30am. File a 311 complaint if your landlord fails to provide heat.

Call 311 immediately to file a complaint. Under the RLTO, you may also be entitled to repair and deduct or terminate your lease if the heat outage renders the unit uninhabitable.

Disclaimer

This guide is for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For advice specific to your situation, contact a qualified attorney or one of the free legal services listed above.