# Amendment of Municipal Code Chapter 2-44 by adding new Section 2-44-170 regarding requirements for Low Income Housing Tax Credit Qualified Allocation plans

- Record number: **SO2025-0017573**
- Type: Ordinance; category: Municipal Code Amendments
- Status: Final
- Sponsor: Martin, Matthew J. (with 2 co-sponsors)
- Committee: Committee on Housing and Real Estate
- Introduced: May 21, 2025
- Final action: Jul 15, 2026
- Official record: [Office of the City Clerk](https://chicityclerkelms.chicago.gov/Matter/?matterId=7F84A4EE-7136-F011-8C4D-001DD8309E73)

## Roll call: Passed Jul 15, 2026

**49 yea, 0 nay.** On motion of Alderperson Sigcho-Lopez, and unsuccessful motion to reconsider by Alderperson Mitchell, the matter was Passed. Voted at the [City Council meeting of Jul 15, 2026](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/meeting/DF5C52EA-0D6B-F111-A823-001DD8019941).

**Yea (49)**: [Daniel La Spata](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/1) (1), [Brian Hopkins](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/2) (2), [Pat Dowell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/3) (3), [Lamont J. Robinson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/4) (4), [Desmon C. Yancy](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/5) (5), [William E. Hall](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/6) (6), [Gregory I. Mitchell](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/7) (7), [Michelle A. Harris](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/8) (8), [Anthony Beale](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/9) (9), [Peter Chico](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/10) (10), [Nicole T. Lee](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/11) (11), [Julia M. Ramirez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/12) (12), [Marty Quinn](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/13) (13), [Jeylú B. Gutiérrez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/14) (14), [Raymond A. Lopez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/15) (15), [Stephanie D. Coleman](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/16) (16), [David H. Moore](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/17) (17), [Derrick G. Curtis](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/18) (18), [Matthew J. O'Shea](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/19) (19), [Jeanette B. Taylor](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/20) (20), [Ronnie L. Mosley](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/21) (21), [Michael D. Rodriguez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/22) (22), [Silvana Tabares](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/23) (23), [Monique L. Scott](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/24) (24), [Byron Sigcho-López](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/25) (25), [Jessica L. Fuentes](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/26) (26), [Walter R. Burnett](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/27) (27), [Jason C. Ervin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/28) (28), [Chris Taliaferro](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/29) (29), [Ruth Cruz](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/30) (30), [Felix Cardona Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/31) (31), [Scott Waguespack](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/32) (32), [Rossana Rodríguez Sánchez](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/33) (33), [William Conway](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/34) (34), [Anthony J. Quezada](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/35) (35), [Gilbert Villegas](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/36) (36), [Nicholas Sposato](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/38) (38), [Samantha Nugent](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/39) (39), [Andre Vasquez Jr.](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/40) (40), [Anthony V. Napolitano](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/41) (41), [Brendan Reilly](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/42) (42), [Timothy R. Knudsen](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/43) (43), [Bennett R. Lawson](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/44) (44), [James M. Gardiner](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/45) (45), [Angela Clay](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/46) (46), [Matthew J. Martin](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/47) (47), [Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/48) (48), [Maria E. Hadden](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/49) (49), [Debra L. Silverstein](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/50) (50)

**Not voting (1)**: [Emma Mitts](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/ward/37) (37)

## Plain-language summary

> Written by AI (claude-opus-5-5) from the ordinance text only: [SO2025-0017573 Substitute Ordinance.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/3311f477-00d8-4302-a915-a1be2f3892e3.pdf). AI can make mistakes; the official document always wins.

This ordinance sets new rules for how Chicago's Department of Housing handles construction budgets, change orders, and move-in approvals for affordable rental housing built with City money or tax credits. It lets developers keep and manage a project's contingency (backup) funds and make many construction changes without first getting City approval, while larger or key changes still need approval. It also requires the Department to publish regular public reports on affordable housing projects and on how long its reviews take.

- Applies to affordable rental projects of 10 or more units getting City help, under housing tax credit plans published on or after January 1, 2027.
- Each project gets a contingency reserve, generally held by the developer; leftover savings may be kept by the developer for uses allowed under City rules.
- Most change orders do not need prior City approval if the developer certifies they follow the law. Prior approval may still be required for changes to unit count, unit mix, affordability, accessibility, or major features, or for large cost changes.
- Move-in is allowed only after five conditions are met, including a final certificate of occupancy and an accessibility inspection by the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities.
- The Department must publish a yearly project status report and quarterly data on review times, starting by June 30, 2027 and ending June 30, 2032.

**Money**

- $20,000: change orders that would use the greater of $20,000 or 20% of the remaining contingency reserve may require prior City approval

**Who**: Developers and sponsors of City-funded affordable rental housing, the Department of Housing, and residents who use the public reports are affected.

**Where**: Citywide in Chicago

## Timeline

- May 21, 2025: Referred, City Council
- Apr 15, 2026: Recommended for Re-Referral, City Council
- Apr 15, 2026: Referred, City Council
- Jun 10, 2026: Held in Committee, Committee on Housing and Real Estate
- Jul 8, 2026: Substituted, Committee on Housing and Real Estate
- Jul 8, 2026: Recommended to Pass, Committee on Housing and Real Estate
- Jul 15, 2026: Passed, City Council

## Documents

- [w47 - o17573.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/94ff6346-29b2-45f8-9228-8cdc60e09caf.pdf) (Legislation)
- [SO2025-0017573 Substitute Ordinance.pdf](https://www.chicagopolitics.org/files/clerk/matterattachmentspublic/3311f477-00d8-4302-a915-a1be2f3892e3.pdf) (Legislation)

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Source: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/matter/7F84A4EE-7136-F011-8C4D-001DD8309E73 · Chicago Politics, an independent, nonpartisan tracker of the Chicago City Council. Guide for agents: https://www.chicagopolitics.org/llms.txt