Illinois Has a Builders Remedy!

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Yes, Illinois has a state Builders Remedy law! But we need your help to make it a useful tool to get affordable housing approved.

How it works: In cities where less than 10% of the housing is affordable, if the city disapproves a housing project that has 20% or more affordable housing, the developer (and soon an advocacy org) can appeal the decision to an appeals board appointed by the Governor (more on that later).

How you can help: Submit proposed housing projects to our database, so that we can use the Illinois Builders Remedy to get them approved! Submit them as early as possible, and when in doubt about whether the project qualifies - submit anyway! No harm done.

Here is the list of cities where builders remedy projects can be proposed:

A map of Illinois listing all of the places where the builders remedy is possible

Click the map to go to an interactive version

More on the Appeals board: 

Although this law has existed since 2003, and the Appeals Board has existed since 2005, there is only one member of the Appeals Board; none of the seven Governor’s appointed members have been made yet. The board needs at least four members in order to do business, and the board needs to be able to function in order to hear appeals of builders remedy projects.

We are campaigning for the appeals board to be convened, even if we have to sue to make it happen! But, with your help, we won’t have to sue. When developers and activists start appealing housing projects, this will create pressure on the governors’ office to appoint the appeals board. 

Let us know about people you think should be appointed to the board. The members of the board that need to be appointed must fit into each of the following categories:

  • A retired judge or retired appellate judge (CHAIRPERSON);

  • A zoning board appeals member, from local governments that are on the list; 

  • A planning board appeals member, from local governments that are on the list;

  • A mayor or municipal council board member, from local governments that are on the list;

  • A county board member; 

  • An affordable housing developer; 

  • An affordable housing advocate; (if you’re reading this, this probably means you!)

If you meet these criteria, you can even nominate yourself for the board. Fill out the nomination form here: https://govappointments.illinois.gov/submit-an-application/
If you nominate yourself, please let us know so that we can support your nomination!