This page sets out what the Cook County Human Rights Ordinance asks of employers, with windows, fines and recent changes. It applies to employers based or doing business in Cook County, not to businesses operating only in DuPage, Kane, Will or Kendall counties. The overview is on the main ordinance page.
What the law requires
| Requirement | What it means in plain words | Section |
|---|---|---|
| No discrimination | Hiring, pay, discipline, discharge and training may not turn on a protected class | 42-35(b)(1) |
| Sexual harassment | Employers answer for supervisors' acts, and for co-worker acts they knew or should have known about unless they took immediate and appropriate corrective action | 42-35(e) |
| Religious practice | Reasonable efforts to accommodate, unless an undue hardship | 42-35(d) |
| Bodily autonomy | No discrimination or retaliation over a worker's or family member's reproductive or gender-affirming care decisions | 42-35(b)(4) |
| Credit history | No refusing to hire, firing or asking for a credit report, except listed roles | 42-35(g) |
| Criminal history | No asking until selection for an interview, or a conditional offer if none; carve-outs exist | 42-35(h) |
| National origin | No discrimination disguised as concern about foreign education or training | 42-35(f) |
| Retaliation | No retaliation, no aiding or coercing a violation, no interference with the Commission | 42-41 |
Key numbers and dates
| Item | Amount or date | Year in force | Source label |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complaint window | 180 days from the alleged violation (continuing violation: from its last day); the Commission serves the employer within 10 days of filing | Code of 27 August 2026 | Code 42-34(b); Rules 420.100 |
| Employer answer | 30 days after service; a missed answer risks a Notice of Default and, 30 days later, a default order | Rules effective 19 November 2024 | Rules 420.165 |
| Investigation and hearing | Substantial-evidence decision within 180 days where practicable; hearing starts within 90 days after a finding | 2026 Code | Code 42-34(b)(2), (3) |
| Fine | $100 to $500 per offense, per day | 2026 Code | Code 42-34(c)(1) |
| Credit exception thresholds | $2,500 custody or unsupervised access to cash or marketable assets; $100 per transaction signatory power | 2026 Code | Code 42-35(g)(2) |
Source: Cook County Code 42-34 and Commission Rules 420
Recent and pending changes
- May 2023: Ordinance 23-2279 added bodily-autonomy protections for employment and housing and updated the definitions.
- 20 July 2023 and 13 March 2025: Ordinances 23-3757 and 25-1358 also touched the definitions section.
- 25 January and 19 November 2024: the Procedural Rules were amended; the current rules took effect 19 November 2024.
- 26 May 2026: the Commission released its Just Housing Amendment Impact Assessment Report, for landlords. We did not read it.
Penalties and enforcement
The Commission enforces the ordinance. A case starts when someone files a complaint (the Commission can also start one itself); the County site has an online form.
| Tier | What happens |
|---|---|
| Fine | $100 to $500 per offense; each day of a continuing violation counts separately, apart from damages and fees |
| Other relief | Stop the conduct, actual damages, hiring or reinstatement with or without back pay, interest, attorney and expert fees, compliance reports, posted notices |
| Court | The complainant may elect court within 20 days after notice of a substantial-evidence finding, then has 90 days from written authorization to sue; a court filing ends the Commission case. Appeals go by writ of certiorari to the Chancery Division of the Circuit Court of Cook County |
State law is separate; see the Illinois Human Rights Act. Related: our payroll tax basics guide and the checklist and FAQs page.
Official sources
- Cook County Code of Ordinances, Chapter 42, Article II (Municode)
- Cook County Commission on Human Rights
- Cook County: Human Rights Ordinance and Regulations
- Cook County Commission on Human Rights: Substantive and Procedural Rules (PDF, effective 19 November 2024)
- Cook County Board of Commissioners: Legislation (Legistar)
This page is a plain-language summary. The official source controls if there is any difference.