2026-09-10 · Illinois · Legislation · Did not pass

What happened. SB 1683 would have provided that an Illinois community association may not prohibit any resident or owner from making reasonable renovations, modifications or other changes to the inside or outside of their home where the change accommodates the resident's or owner's health condition or disability, so long as the changes do not extend beyond certain boundaries. It was re-referred to Assignments in the 2025 deadline sweep and did not pass.¹

What governs instead

Nothing changed, which means the existing framework still applies: the federal Fair Housing Act's reasonable-modification duty and the Illinois Human Rights Act.

Under that framework a resident with a disability may make reasonable modifications at their own expense, the association may condition approval on restoration of the interior when the resident leaves where reasonable, and the association must engage in an interactive process rather than refuse outright.

The two things SB 1683 would have changed

“Health condition” is broader than “disability.” Fair housing law turns on disability as defined by statute. A resident with a serious health condition that does not meet that definition — recovering from surgery, managing a progressive condition not yet substantially limiting — has no accommodation right. SB 1683's phrase “health condition or disability” would have covered them.

An affirmative right, not a defence. Fair housing law operates through a complaint: the resident asks, the association refuses, the resident files with IDHR or HUD or sues. SB 1683 would have written the right into association law directly, which changes who bears the cost of the dispute.

1. Illinois Condo & HOA Law Blog, 2025-2026 legislative update (SB 1683 synopsis and status) ↩
2. 765 ILCS 605, Condominium Property Act, including Section 18.12 accessible parking accommodation policy ↩