The City of Evanston recognizes that new housing in Evanston is generally not affordable to low- and moderate-income households and the Inclusionary Housing Program seeks to address this.

Housing developments covered by the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) are required to:

• Provide housing units for low- and moderate-income households and/or
• Contribute to the City's Affordable Housing Fund

The City provide the following incentives:

• Expedited application review process
• Waived and deferred building permit fees
• Zoning bonuses
• Reduced parking requirements

Cook County provides meaningful property tax incentives (see below)

The City of Evanston's Inclusionary Housing Ordinance (IHO) was first in force in 2007 and the current IHO became effective Jan 1, 2019. For more info, see Legislative History below.

Potential Renters/Homebuyers

Interested in renting or purchasing an Inclusionary Housing unit? Don't know where to start? The City of Evanston has created a centralized waitlist for all Inclusionary Housing units, which is managed by Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH). When any Inclusionary Housing unit becomes available, prospective tenants are contacted based on their place on the centralized waitlist.

To apply for the waitlist:

• Fill out the pre-application online OR
• Download the fillable PDF and send it to CPAHwaitlist@cpahousing.org

Note: A completed pre-application by an eligible household adds your name to the waitlist and is not an application for an Inclusionary Housing unit. When a unit becomes available, Community Partners for Affordable Housing (CPAH) offers those at the top of the waitlist the opportunity to apply for that unit. Listings for current and/or recently available Inclusionary Housing units can be seen here.

Questions about pre-application, eligibility or the waitlist? Contact Millie Centurion at mcenturion@cpahousing.org or 847-263-7478 Ext 28.

For additional housing resources: Local Housing Resource List

Developer Resources

Developments covered by the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance contain 5+ dwelling units and at least one of the following:

• New residential or mixed-use development
• Redevelopment that changes the tenure from rental to for-sale or for-sale to rental
• Redevelopment that changes the number of bedrooms in dwelling units
• Redevelopment that changes the use to residential
• New residential component to existing development

To start the entitlement process:

• Visit the Zoning Applications page and/or contact Melissa Klotz at zoning@cityofevanston.org or 847-448-4311.
• Submit an Inclusionary Housing Application concurrently with the Zoning Analysis Application

The Cook County Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program:

• Provides tax incentives to developments containing 7+ rental units
• Incentives vary for 15%, 20% and 35% affordability
• As a "low affordability community", developments in Evanston are eligible for the 20% tier 
• Affordable Housing Special Assessment Program
• Tax Incentives Summary
• IL Statute 15-178: Reduction in assessed value for affordable rental housing construction or rehabilitation

Questions about Inclusionary Housing? Contact Inclusionary Housing staff at IHO@cityofevanston.org or 847-448-4311.

Additional Resources

• Inclusionary Housing + Zoning Bonus Summary
• Inclusionary Housing In-Lieu Fees Effective Jan 1, 2024 - Present
• Maximum Gross Rents and Income Limits Effective April 1, 2024 - Present
• Utility Allowance Schedule Effective August 1, 2022 - Present
• Inclusionary Housing Policies and Procedures - Rental
• Inclusionary Housing Annual Income Re-Verification Procedures - Rental

Inclusionary Housing units must adhere to the current maximum gross rents and income limits. For Inclusionary Housing rental units, gross rents include tenant-paid utilities. 

Legislative History

• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance 10-29-2018(Current) Adopted: Oct 29, 2018. Effective Jan 1, 2019 - Present.
• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance 11-23-2015 Adopted: Nov 23, 2015. Effective Jan 1, 2016 - Dec 31, 2018.
• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance 3-12-2007 Adopted: Mar 12, 2007. Effective Mar 12, 2007 - Dec 31, 2015.
• Inclusionary Housing Ordinance 10-23-2006 Adopted: Oct 23, 2006. Amended prior to effective date (Mar 17, 2007)

Note: This page is intended to provide a summary of the current Inclusionary Housing Program. Please confirm all rules and regulations in the current Inclusionary Housing Ordinance.