We support building more homes close to jobs and businesses, legalizing accessory dwelling units (aka “granny flats”), and building more family-size apartment buildings across the state.

Learn more about the bills we’re fighting for and join us in making Illinois a place where everyone can find a home.

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Legislation

The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeals (AHPAA) Improvement Act

HB 5198 (Rep. Katz-Muhl / Sen. Johnson)

What it does: The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act (AHPAA) (310 ILCS 67/1, et al.) is Illinois’ only law focused on expanding affordable housing in the state’s most expensive communities. By focusing on 3 areas, we can strengthen AHPAA and modernize it to meet the current housing crisis:

1. Increase AHPAA’s minimum affordable housing threshold from 10% to 25%
2. Requiring municipalities to use their own records to demonstrate that a proposed affordable development was denied or restricted for an acceptable reason (rather than putting that burden on developers) and allowing the State Housing Appeals Board to award attorney fees if an appeal is successful
3. Make minor changes to the statutory requirements for plans and give the Illinois Housing Development Authority (IHDA) direction to create rules and regulations

How it helps: Increasing the threshold to 25% would double the number of municipalities subject to the law—from the current 3.5% to 7% of all Illinois municipalities, bringing more communities into AHPAA’s planning process and getting us closer to meet the housing needs of Illinois residents. Strengthening the Appeals Board by putting the burden of proof on municipalities rather than developers and awarding attorney’s fees creates accountability for local governments and incentivizes affordable housing approvals in high-cost communities. The AHPAA Improvement Act will also ensure that market-based solutions, like upzonings and permit reform, actually create affordable housing options.

Similar laws passed in other states: California

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Permitting Reform & 3rd Party Review

SB 643 (Sen. Ellman)

What it does: Establishes binding timelines (aka “shot clocks”) for municipal plan review and inspections. If a municipality misses a deadline, the applicant may hire a qualified third-party plan reviewer or inspector. To qualify, a third-party reviewer or inspector must be a licensed Illinois architect or engineer with active certification from the International Code Council, NFPA, or IAPMO.

How it helps: Delays in municipal plan review and building inspections are a persistent source of cost and uncertainty in housing construction. When municipalities miss review or inspection deadlines, developers have no recourse projects stall, financing costs accumulate, and housing that communities need goes unbuilt. Shot clocks and 3rd party review accelerate
housing production while maintaining code compliance and public safety standards. Giving applicants a reliable fallback option when government processes stall creates accountability without eliminating municipal oversight.

Similar laws passed in other states: Arizona, Kansas, Tennessee, Texas

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Impact Fee Reform

SB 4062 (Sen. Castro)

What it does: establishes a statewide formula structure for calculating impact fees, administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). This formula will include calculations for necessary impact fees like stormwater management and public safety facilities.

How it helps: Unpredictable and inflated impact fees add to the cost of building homes and create drawn-out negotiations that slow housing production. Standardizing the methodology increases fairness, reduces uncertainty, and ensures that fees are proportionate to actual impacts.

Similar laws passed in other states: Colorado, Maine

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