Chicago’s city council today passed an ordinance establishing a working group to research, evaluate, and issue recommendations regarding health and safety inspections of rental units. 

The ordinance was produced and championed by the Chicago Healthy Homes Ordinance coalition, of which BGA Policy is a steering committee member. The coalition seeks a proactive rental inspection regimen similar to those successfully established in other major cities. 

With passage of the working group ordinance, relevant city departments including the Department of Housing, Department of Law, Department of Buildings, and Department of Public Health will convene with stakeholders, advocates, and subject matter experts to examine best practices and produce recommendations for the city administration and legislature. 

The ordinance sets a six-month timeline, in which the working group will host at least three public meetings, before production of the final recommendations. 

BGA Policy is proud to have been a steering member in this coalition. Our work is guided by years of reporting from the BGA’s newsroom the Illinois Answers Project and the Chicago Tribune, including their Pulitzer prize-winning series “The Failures before the Fires.” With the establishment of the working group, the BGA will continue to advocate for a safer, healthier city for all.