Bathrooms and toilet rooms are not considered habitable spaces, but heat is specifically required in these types of rooms by the Heat Ordinance. “Habitable spaces” are defined as areas of a building intended for recreation, working, sleeping, eating, or cooking. The Heat Ordinance requires that within houses, apartments, hotel rooms, and indoor workspaces, heat be provided in all habitable spaces, toilet rooms, and bathrooms. The Heat Ordinance does not prevent a building from disengaging heating equipment or operating cooling equipment (air conditioning) during the heat season as long as required minimum indoor temperatures are maintained. This period is often referred to as the “heat season.” The Heat Ordinance applies from September 15 until June 1. Frequently Asked Questions When is Heat Required? To report an immediate danger to yourself or others, always call 9‑1‑1. The Department of Buildings will inspect and take action against landlords and employers who are found to be breaking the law. If you are a resident or worker in the City of Chicago and your landlord or employer is not providing adequate heat or no heat at all, you may file a complaint using 3‑1‑1. The reason for lack of heat does not matter-building owners must follow the law, and heat must be provided. Landlords and building owners face fines of $500 to $1,000 per day, per violation, if they do not supply adequate heat or functioning heating equipment. There are exceptions for workspaces where cold temperatures are necessary for the type of work being performed, such as a refrigerated warehouse. ![]() The Heat Ordinance also requires that during designated cold weather months building owners provide heat to indoor workspaces. Tenants with individual heating equipment may be required to pay the associated utility bills. The Heat Ordinance also requires that landlords keep individual heating equipment within houses or individual apartments in good operating condition. The Heat Ordinance requires that during designated cold weather months landlords supply heat to apartments where occupants do not have individual control of the heat (individual heating equipment). The Heat Ordinance applies to both homes and workspaces. The Department of Buildings enforces the Chicago Minimum Requirements for Existing Buildings, which includes the Chicago Heat Ordinance (Section 14X-8-803 of the Municipal Code).
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