In June 2016, the Chicago City Council approved tight regulations that would restrict some buildings from being banned from vacation rental sites like Airbnb without a proper license. More than a year later and hosts in prohibited buildings are still slipping through the cracks, welcoming visitors from across the world. 

Crain’s Chicago Business recently reported on the so-called scofflaws that are making money off of their property illegally through the shared-housing website. While Commissioner of the Department of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection Rosa Escareno told the publication that enforcement is “working out just as planned-- better than expected, actually,” local alderman and landlords think otherwise.

Dozens of illegal Airbnb listings are located in prohibited buildings in The Loop, West Loop, and River North, including OneEleven and the Presidential Towers. 

Enforcement began officially mid-August of this year when the department began the process of approving and denying license applications from prospective hosts. As of December 5, the department processed 7,621 applications and approved 4,781 licenses. The process can take anywhere between 30 to 60 days. 

The department has issued 30 citations to hosts who continue to list their units after being denied a license, which is a fine running between $1,500 to $5,000. As of December, 1,787 properties were on the prohibited building list. 

However, some Airbnb hosts are getting away with listing their unit unlawfully because their applications are missing important information. The city has yet to rule on 1,300 applications because specifics like unit number or even address is missing. Previous to the implementation of the Airbnb ordinance that requires specific location information, hosts would list their home without it. Now some are applying for applications without an address.