Whether you live in an apartment, condominium, duplex or single-family house, your home is probably the most important place in the world to you. It is where you raise your family and keep your belongings. In many cases, it represents one of the greatest investments you will ever make.

One way you can protect the value of your home and enhance the quality of life for the people that live there, is to follow to the City's occupancy standards.

Minimum Standards
The City of Elgin has adopted nationally-accepted minimum standards as a guide to determine proper occupancy limits. Only immediate family members may live in a dwelling unit plus, if desired, up to two lodgers or boarders.

The national standards also provide requirements for the number of people that may live in certain sized areas. The minimum space requirements per number of occupants are shown on the following chart.

Living Space                                                                                       Sleeping Space

Space	Minimum Area Requirements				Number of Occupants	Square Feet Required
	1-2 Occupants	3-5 Occupants	6 or More Occupants
Living Room	None	120 sq. ft.	150 sq. ft.		1	70
Dining Room	None	80 sq. ft.	100 sq. ft.		2	100
Kitchen	50 sq. ft.	50 sq. ft.	60 sq. ft.		3	150
Bedrooms	Section 404.4	Section 404.4	Section 404.4		4	200
Click here for Section 404.4 Contact If you have questions or need more information, contact Code Enforcement and Neighborhood Affairs at (847) 931-5921 and ask for your area property maintenance inspector / code enforcement officer. Why Should I Observe Occupancy Limits? By following the occupancy limits, you will rid your home of conditions that may compromise your family's well being.					5	250
					6	300
					7	350
					8	400
					9	450
					10	500
					11	550
					12	600

Overcrowded housing presents safety problems and causes
undue stress and inconvenience to family members.

Overcrowded housing hurts the neighborhood and community too, with problems such as parking problems, crowded schools, increased noise pollution, and strains on community services. Property values decrease and the quality of life for everyone is lowered.