(a) Registration with the department required. No shared housing host shall advertise for rent, list on a platform, rent, or book for future rental any shared housing unit or portion thereof until such shared housing host, in accordance with Section 4-13-230(a): (1) registers such unit with the department by submitting to the department a registration application meeting the requirements of subsections (b) and (c) of this section; and (2) is issued a unique registration number by the department for the shared housing unit identified in the registration application; and (3) includes such registration number in any advertisement for rent, listing on a platform, rental agreement, or booking for future rental pertaining to such shared housing unit; and (4) if the shared host advertises the shared housing unit on a primary website established, operated or maintained by such shared housing host or his agent, includes such registration number in any advertisement for such shared housing unit on such website. A separate registration shall be required for each dwelling unit used as a shared housing unit.
(b) Registration application – Form and contents. The registration application required under subsection (a)(1) of this section shall be in a form and manner prescribed by the commissioner, and shall be accompanied by the following information:
(1) the shared housing host's name, which shall be the name of a natural person, and the shared housing host's residence address. The accuracy of the information required under this subsection (b)(1) shall be verified by documentation provided in a form approved by the commissioner;
(2) the address of the dwelling unit being registered as a shared housing unit, including the unit number, unit letter or similar unit identification;
(3) contact information for the host or for a local contact person;
(4) whether the dwelling unit identified in the registration application is: (i) a single family home, or (ii) a unit in a building containing multiple dwelling units, and, if so, the number of dwelling units in the building, and (iii) whether the host intends to make the entire dwelling unit available for rent or only a room or portion of the dwelling unit available for rent;
(5) whether the dwelling unit identified in the registration application is the shared housing host's primary residence;
(6) the registration fee required under subsection (j) of this section; and
(7) any other information that the commissioner may reasonably require in connection with the issuance or renewal of a registration under this chapter.
It is a condition of the registration that all information in the application be kept current. Any change in required information shall be reported to the department within ten business days of such change.
(c) Accurate Information – Required. It shall be unlawful for any shared housing host: (i) to submit false information or to make any false, misleading or fraudulent statement in the registration application required under subsection (b) of this section; or (ii) use any scheme or subterfuge for the purpose of evading the requirements of this chapter.
(d) (1) Zoning review – Required. Each registration under this section shall include a zoning review to ensure that the location of the shared housing unit is in compliance with the Chicago Zoning Ordinance.
(2) Review of prohibited building list – Required. Each registration under this section shall include a review of the prohibited buildings list maintained by the commissioner pursuant to Section 4-13-270(c) to ensure that the shared housing unit is not located at an address identified on that list.
(3) Review of restricted residential zone list – Required. Each registration under this section shall include a review of the list of current restricted residential zones maintained by the city clerk pursuant to Section 4-17-060 to ensure that the shared housing unit is not located in a restricted residential zone, unless the shared housing unit located within a restricted residential zone is a lawfully established use within such zone within the meaning of Section 4-17-070.
(e) Registration number – Required. The commissioner shall assign a unique registration number to each approved shared housing unit registered with the department.
(f) Duty to post registration number. The shared housing host shall include, in legible type, the shared housing unit's unique registration number in any advertisement for rent, listing on a platform, rental agreement, or booking for future rental pertaining to such shared housing unit.
(g) Advertising for rental, listing on a platform, renting, and booking for future rental a shared housing unit while registration is pending – Prohibited. It shall be unlawful for any shared housing host to advertise for rent, list on a platform, rent or book for future rental any shared housing unit: (1) while registration of that unit with the department is pending, and (2) until such time that a unique registration number is assigned to such shared housing unit by the department.
(h) Annual review of registration – Required. After the initial registration of a shared housing unit is approved by the department, the shared housing host may renew the shared housing unit's registration annually each year thereafter in a manner prescribed by the commissioner, unless the commissioner determines that the unit is ineligible for registration under Section 4-13-260(a).
(i) Transfer of registration – Prohibited. The registration for a shared housing unit shall not be transferable to any other shared housing unit or shared housing host.
(j) Registration fee – Required. The shared housing unit registration fee set forth in Section 4-5-010 shall be payable annually.
(Added Coun. J. 6-22-16, p. 27712, § 9; Amend Coun. J. 2-22-17, p. 43564, § 4; Amend Coun. J. 5-20-20, p. 17016, § 5; Amend Coun. J. 9-9-20, p. 20269, § 25; Amend Coun. J. 3-24-21, p. 28843, § 1)