A new report by Housing Action Illinois and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Code Enforcement as a Tool for Safe, Equitable & Affordable Housing, explores the impact of local housing code enforcement on health, safety, and stability. Despite the promise of the U.S. Housing Act of 1949 to ensure “a decent home and suitable living environment” for everyone, poor-quality housing remains a persistent issue—disproportionately affecting low-income communities of color.
Code enforcement is a critical tool to uphold housing standards. However, even when there are good intentions behind them, current practices often fall short, especially because of resource constraints. With a focus on reactive responses to complaints and exterior conditions, enforcement can neglect interior health and safety while disproportionately targeting vulnerable neighborhoods. This leads to increased housing instability and fails to address root causes of violations.
In this report, we examine housing code enforcement practices in Illinois from multiple perspectives, including that of code enforcement administrations and local governments, property owners and landlords, and community institutions. We rely on statewide data as well as local case studies, having conducted an in-depth analysis of code enforcement practices in five mid-sized cities in Illinois, as well as Chicago. Key findings include:
- Disparities in enforcement: Low-income neighborhoods of color face more violations but lack resources to resolve underlying issues.
- Challenges in accountability: Limited penalties for negligent landlords hinder progress.
- Focus on property value: Enforcement prioritizes blight reduction over holistic health and safety improvements.
To create more equitable and effective code enforcement, the report recommends:
- Strengthening connections between code enforcement and human services, particularly social workers, to mediate complex compliance issues.
- Promoting local rental licensing programs to create stronger incentives and consequences for landlord compliance.
- Building accountability through citizen oversight and data transparency.
- Embedding equity as a necessary policy framing for code enforcement action.
This report highlights the urgent need to shift from punitive measures to proactive strategies to support housing stability, health, and safety for all.
Download the full report to explore our findings and recommendations »
