Vacation Rental License

NOTICE

Effective September 8th, 2025, new applications for vacation rental licenses will no longer be accepted. The City Council has approved a moratorium on all new applications for both owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied properties until March 9th, 2026. Those who currently operate a licensed vacation rental may continue to do so and will be permitted to apply for renewal.

Vacation Rentals are defined as dwelling units, or portions thereof, offered for rent for a period shorter than thirty (30) consecutive days to any person other than a member of the owner's family, as those terms are defined in Section 6-18-3 of the City of Evanston's Code of Ordinances. Units listed on AirBnB, VRBO, and other hosting platforms, are included in this category.

• The term "vacation rental" shall not include hotels or motels, licensed pursuant to Title 3, Chapter 2 of this Code, lodging establishments, licensed pursuant to Title 5, Chapter 2 of this Code, bed and breakfast establishments, licensed pursuant to Title 8, Chapter 19 of this Code, and/or home sharing in accord with Subsection 6-4-1-14-(B) of this Code.

IMPORTANT: All vacation rental operators are subject to the "Hotel-Motel, Bed and Breakfast Establishments, and Vacation Rental Tax", which shall be remitted on a quarterly basis. Please review the tax requirements and ordinance carefully.

Application Process

License Renewals

Current licensees may renew their license online at the following link:

• Vacation Rental License - Renewal Application
• Annual Renewal Fee: $150

New Applicants

The City is accepting applications online at the following link:

• Vacation Rental License - New Application  (Disabled temporarily)  
  • Application Fee: $250 
  • If you are having trouble using the online application, please contact the City's Program Administrator at: nsaric@cityofevanston.org.
• Please have the following documents ready to submit with your application:
  • Floorplan of each dwelling unit (including room dimensions)
  • Floorplan/drawing of the entire property
  • Evacuation diagram
  • Copy of the proposed short-term rental listing
  • In addition, the following may be necessary in certain cases:
    • Affidavit attesting that the owner is on active military duty, and providing the information of the person who will be responsible for the property in their absence.
    • HOA letter confirming that the association's bylaws permit usage of the unit as a vacation rental/short-term rental.

Once an application is received, it will be reviewed by the City for completeness, including the submission of all required documentation. City staff may reach out to you for additional documentation prior to proceeding with the review process.

Owner-Occupied

• The rental unit, as well as any common areas that will be available to guests, must be inspected for compliance with the Property Maintenance Code prior to license issuance. The Property Standards team will reach out to the owner to schedule this inspection.
  • Please be advised that all observed violations must be corrected regardless of whether a vacation rental license is eventually issued.
• If a property owner seeks a Vacation Rental License for the owner’s primary residence, the license application will be reviewed by City staff.
  • "Primary residence" or "owner-occupied" is defined as a property occupied by the owner more than 50% of the year.
  • Each applicant must submit proof of mailed notices to all owners whose addresses appear on the current tax assessment list of real estate property located within radius of 250 feet of the subject property, inclusive of public streets, alleys and other public ways. The notice must include the applicant’s name, the address of the subject property, and the matter under consideration.
• If the application is approved, the annual license fee of $150 will be due. After payment is received, the license certificate will be issued to the owner.

Not Owner-Occupied

• The rental unit, as well as any common areas that will be available to guests, must be inspected for compliance with the Property Maintenance Code prior to license issuance. The Property Standards team will reach out to the owner to schedule this inspection.
  • Please be advised that all observed violations must be corrected regardless of whether a vacation rental license is eventually issued.
•  Applicants seeking a license for a property that is not the owner’s primary residence will be required to appear before the City's Planning and Development Committee for license approval. A date will be assigned once the inspections have been completed. Each application must be reviewed by the P&D Committee and City Council before approval is granted.
  • "Primary residence" or "owner-occupied" is defined as a property occupied by the owner more than 50% of the year.
  • Each applicant must submit, prior to the Planning and Development Committee meeting, proof of mailed notices to all owners whose addresses appear on the current tax assessment list of real estate property located within radius of 250 feet of the subject property, inclusive of public streets, alleys and other public ways. The notice must include the applicant’s name, the address of the subject property, the matter under consideration, and the date, time and location of the meeting of the Planning and Development Committee.
  • The standards for license approval, which will be reviewed by the P&D Committee and City Council, can be found in the City's Code of Ordinances in Title 5, Chapter 9.
• If the application is approved by the City Council, the annual license fee of $150 will be due. After payment is received, a license certificate will be issued to the owner.

After License Issuance

Every vacation rental operator shall post, in a conspicuous place within the vacation rental:

1. The name and telephone number of the operator's authorized agent identified pursuant to Code Subsection 5-8-3(A)2;
2.  The approved maximum occupancy along with an evacuation diagram inside the entrance door identifying all means of egress from the vacation rental and the building in which the vacation rental is located;
3. A current copy of the listing (PLEASE NOTE: once issued, the Evanston license number is to be included in the rental listing);
4. A current copy of the vacation rental license certificate;
5. The schedule of, or restriction on, street cleaning and street snow removal.
6. If the property is subject to restrictions imposed by a homeowners association or board of directors, then the owner shall post an attestation that the homeowners association or board of directors has not adopted bylaws prohibiting the use of the dwelling unit identified in the license application as a vacation rental or shared housing unit, or that restricts rentals for a period of time less than thirty (30) days, in any combination.