Lake County Gazette

The Waukegan City Council has amended the code of ordinances to regulate and define short-term rental properties, following a 6-3 vote during its regular meeting on January 21.

According to the council's meeting agenda packet, a short-term rental unit is defined as the use of a dwelling unit for overnight accommodation rented by transient guests for less than 30 consecutive days, with a minimum stay of two consecutive nights. This definition excludes hotels and motels. A $50 application fee and a $100 per unit one-year license fee are required. The application must include the full name and valid contact information of the applicant, along with the location and proof of ownership of the property. If the owner is not a city resident, they must provide the full name and valid contact information for a Waukegan resident who will serve as an emergency 24-hour contact. Short-term rental properties are subject to city inspections.

The agenda packet indicates that there is no cap on the number of short-term rental licenses issued in 2025. However, it reserves the right to impose a cap on additional licenses granted by the ordinance after that year. The license year runs from January 1 to December 31.

Applications for short-term rental unit licenses must include comprehensive details about ownership and emergency contacts if applicable. Properties will undergo inspections by the city both before and during the licensing period.