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Berwyn, IL

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STR Regulations for Berwyn, Illinois

Overview: Are Short-Term Rentals Allowed in Berwyn, IL?

  • Explicit answer: Based on the provided city code and ordinance sources, Berwyn, Illinois does not publish any city-specific short-term rental (STR) licensing, registration, or operational regulations (e.g., no “Airbnb/STR permit” requirements, caps, or hosting rules identified in the Berwyn Code of Ordinances or the city’s recent ordinance activity). In short, no city STR ordinance was found in the sources reviewed.
  • Practical implication: If a property is located within Berwyn’s municipal boundaries and no other local overlay applies, operating an STR is not prohibited by city STR-specific law in the materials provided. You must still comply with general requirements such as business licensing, building and fire safety, zoning, and taxation, and you should verify that your zoning use and HOA rules allow short-term rentals.
  • County context: Cook County’s Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance (RTLO) applies to most suburban rentals, including STRs that rent for 32 days or more; rentals under 32 days are generally outside RTLO coverage. RTLO is enforced through individual right of action; the County’s Commission on Human Rights is not the enforcement agency.
  • State overlay: No statewide STR ban or license exists in Illinois, but state tax and safety laws still apply (see State-level section below).

What do Airbnb hosts actually earn in Berwyn?

Berwyn hosts earn a median $31,774/year with $153 ADR and 70% occupancy.

Top performers pull in $43,007+ per year.

See the full Berwyn market breakdown

How to Start a Short-Term Rental Business in Berwyn

  • Confirm zoning and property use:
    • Review the Berwyn Code of Ordinances for zoning to ensure your property use is permitted for lodging/hospitality in your district. The city’s Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map are listed on the city’s ordinances page.
    • Check any covenants or HOA restrictions that may prohibit STRs.
  • Obtain required city and state authorizations:
    • Business licensing: The city’s Building Permits Department includes a Business Licensing function; you will likely need a general business license to operate a rental business (license type and process should be confirmed directly with the city).
    • Building/fire compliance: For any unit offered to guests, ensure compliance with applicable building and fire codes. Contact the Fire Department and the Building Permits Department early to confirm life-safety requirements.
    • Sales and hotel/occupancy taxes: Illinois imposes state sales tax (6.25%) and, in many cases, local hotel/occupancy taxes. Cook County imposes a 1.75% Home Rule Tax on sales of tangible personal property and certain services. The city page shows a municipal “Grocery Retailers; Occupation Tax & Municipal Grocery Service Occupation Tax,” which illustrates the city’s use of local home rule taxes, but is not a hotel tax; your actual hotel/occupancy tax obligations depend on your location and how the rental is classified by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Set up operations and insurance:
    • Secure appropriate general liability and property insurance for STRs.
    • Prepare guest screening, house rules, and cancellation policies aligned with your platform and local laws.
  • Launch:
    • Register your listing on your chosen platform (Airbnb, VRBO, etc.).
    • Collect and remit applicable sales and hotel/occupancy taxes. File returns as required by the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Ongoing compliance:
    • Renew any required city business licenses annually.
    • Maintain building/fire safety standards and respond promptly to code enforcement or neighbor concerns.

Required Documents, Permits, Licenses, and Guidelines

  • Berwyn municipal:
    • Business license (confirm type and requirements with Business Licensing in the Building Permits Department).
    • Zoning compliance (verify permitted use under the Berwyn Zoning Ordinance and Zoning Map).
    • Building/fire safety compliance (confirm smoke and CO detectors, egress, and any inspection requirements with the Building Permits Department and Fire Department).
  • Cook County (RTLO for longer stays):
    • If you rent for 32 days or more, the Cook County RTLO covers the tenancy. RTLO prohibits lockouts, caps late fees, requires proper notices, and mandates habitability standards. The RTLO is enforced through individual right of action; consult legal resources for enforcement strategies.
  • State of Illinois:
    • Register for Illinois state tax accounts (sales/use and hotel/occupancy taxes).
    • Comply with habitability and safety standards and any disclosure obligations that apply to rental housing under Illinois law.
  • Federal:
    • Obtain an Employer Identification Number (EIN) for tax reporting.
    • Comply with applicable fair housing laws.
  • Recommended internal documentation:
    • Guest screening criteria and policies
    • House rules and safety instructions
    • Written rental agreements (even for short stays)
    • Recordkeeping for taxes, repairs, and guest communications

Specific Regulations by Jurisdiction

City of Berwyn

  • STR-specific ordinance: None identified in the sources reviewed.
  • General ordinances of interest:
    • Berwyn Code of Ordinances is the official compilation of city laws; recent ordinances include topics such as vacant buildings, rodent abatement, and “Welcoming City” regulations (which focus on law enforcement interactions and do not regulate STRs).
    • City ordinances page links to the American Legal Publishing online library for the Berwyn Code.
    • The city’s Building Permits Department and Business Licensing functions will be your primary points of contact for license and compliance questions.
    • The Fire Department (including the Fire Prevention Bureau) should be consulted for life-safety compliance.

Cook County

  • RTLO (Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance) — applies to most suburban Cook County rentals, including STRs rented for 32 days or more.
  • Key RTLO points:
    • Prohibits lockouts and self-help evictions; only the Cook County Sheriff can enforce a court eviction order.
    • Caps security deposits at 1.5x monthly rent; requires itemized statements if any deductions are made.
    • Caps late fees and requires proper notice periods (e.g., 5-day notice for nonpayment of rent; 10-day notice for material non-compliance).
    • Requires landlords to maintain essential services and meet habitability standards (heat from Sept 15 to June 1: 68°F during 8:30 a.m.–10:30 p.m.; 66°F otherwise).
    • Bedbug provisions: landlord must provide pest control within 10 days after notice and keep records for 3 years.
    • Notice requirements for unit entry (2 days’ notice, with exceptions for emergencies).
    • Exemptions apply to small landlords and certain housing types; properties exempt from the RTLO (except anti-lockout rules) must be disclosed in writing before accepting fees.
  • Enforcement: The Cook County Commission on Human Rights is not the enforcement agency for the RTLO. Enforcement is by individual right of action; see the Legal Resources section below.

State of Illinois

  • STR-specific law: No state-level ban or statewide STR registration.
  • Taxes:
    • State sales tax (6.25%) generally applies to most charges for lodging.
    • Cook County imposes a 1.75% Home Rule Tax on sales of tangible personal property and certain services, which can affect total sales tax on lodging transactions.
    • Local hotel/occupancy taxes may also apply depending on your location; confirm with the Illinois Department of Revenue.
  • Housing standards and safety: Illinois law imposes habitability and safety standards. If renting for 32 days or more, RTLO and state rules on habitability and notices will apply.
  • Bedbugs: State and local rules govern response, treatment, and recordkeeping timelines (e.g., RTLO’s 10-day response and 3-year record requirement).
  • Lead-based paint: Properties built before 1978 are subject to federal Lead Disclosure Rule (not cited in the provided sources; included here as a standard industry requirement).
  • Tenant law context: The Attorney General’s office provides guidance on Illinois laws that govern law enforcement interactions with immigrant communities (e.g., TRUST Act and VOICES acts). These do not directly regulate STRs but are relevant to operating policies and law enforcement interactions.

Local Contacts for STRs and Related Compliance

City of Berwyn

  • Building Permits Department / Business Licensing
    • Phone: 708-788-2660
    • Website: See “Business Licensing” under the Building Permits Department listings on the city site.
  • Fire Department (Fire Prevention Bureau)
    • Phone: 708-788-2660
    • Website: Fire Department and Fire Prevention Bureau listings on the city site.
  • City Clerk
    • Phone: 708-788-2660
    • Website: City Clerk page (ordinances, agendas, minutes).
  • Mayor’s Office / City Hall (general city inquiries)
    • Phone: 708-788-2660
    • Address reference: Berwyn, IL 60402
    • Note: Verify precise department phone numbers and street address with the City Hall directory, if needed.

Cook County

  • Commission on Human Rights (RTLO information only; not enforcement)
    • Website: Cook County Commission on Human Rights – Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance page.
  • Cook County Sheriff (for enforcement of court-ordered evictions)
    • Contact via Cook County Sheriff’s Office (find contact details on CookCountyIL.gov).
  • Legal Resources for RTLO and housing issues:
    • Cook County Legal Aid for Housing and Debt
    • Legal Aid Chicago
    • North Suburban Legal Aid Clinic
      • Website: nslegalaid.org
      • Phone: 847-737-4042
    • CARPLS (Cook County’s largest provider of free legal services)

Key Links to Source Materials

Notes:

  • The provided city sources do not list a dedicated STR permitting page or STR-specific ordinance; investors should contact the Building Permits Department and Business Licensing for current requirements and confirm zoning with the Zoning Ordinance and Map.
  • If your property is within the City of Berwyn, use the city contacts listed; if located in unincorporated Cook County, consult the Cook County links and legal resources above.

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Berwyn

Market Saturation Score

036912
Mild Saturation
3/ 12
months with declining YoY revenue
2–4 declining months: early saturation pressure - watch for trend persistence.
View Full Berwyn Market Analysis

Photos of Berwyn

Overview of Berwyn

Berwyn is a city of roughly 55,000 residents in Cook County, Illinois, situated immediately west of Chicago along the city's western edge. Defined by a grid of classic Chicago-style bungalows, a strong Latino cultural presence, and a stretch of historic Route 66 (Ogden Avenue) running through its commercial core, the city has the feel of a close-knit, working-class suburb with deep mid-century roots. It is best known as an affordable, well-connected base for visitors who want to experience Chicago without paying downtown rates, and it lies only about eight miles west of the Loop, easily reached in roughly twenty to thirty minutes by car or by commuter rail from the Berwyn Metra station.

Just south of Berwyn, in neighboring Brookfield, the Brookfield Zoo — formally the Chicago Zoological Park — spreads across more than 200 acres of exhibits featuring big cats, great apes, dolphins, and a notable multi-species Great Bear Wilderness habitat. It is one of the region's oldest and most respected zoological parks, with a long-standing conservation and education mission, and from Berwyn it is only a five- to ten-minute drive, making it a natural half-day outing for families staying in town.

Immediately to the north, the village of Oak Park holds one of the densest concentrations of architectural and literary landmarks in the Chicago area. Frank Lloyd Wright's Home and Studio, where the architect lived and worked from 1889 to 1909, sits about a ten-minute drive from Berwyn, alongside Unity Temple, the 1908 building widely considered one of the early masterpieces of modern architecture. A short distance away, the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum preserves the Queen Anne house where the Nobel Prize–winning author was born in 1899, giving visitors an easy way to combine two very different American legends in a single afternoon.

The obvious marquee draw, however, remains downtown Chicago itself, roughly twenty to thirty minutes east by car or train. From the Metra station, riders reach Union Station and the surrounding business district directly, with Grant Park, Millennium Park, the Art Institute, Navy Pier, and the Museum Campus all within walking distance, meaning short-term rental guests can enjoy a full day in the city and return to a quieter, tree-lined neighborhood by evening.

Berwyn works as a short-term-rental base precisely because it threads the needle between affordability, character, and access. Guests enjoy a culturally distinct suburb with its own restaurants, Route 66 heritage, and bungalow-lined streets, while staying within a short drive of the Brookfield Zoo, Oak Park's architectural landmarks, and the full breadth of downtown Chicago. That combination of small-city atmosphere and big-city proximity makes the city an unusually flexible option for travelers who want variety without committing to a downtown address.

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