Politics & Government

Glenview Responds To Landlord Ordinance Scrutiny

Glenview's new ordinance gives landlords the option to opt-out of the Section 8 program.

Amid some scrutiny over a recent ordinance upholding a landlord's right to choose whether or not to participate in Section 8 housing, the Village of Glenview has issued a public statement defending their position. 


As stated in the Ordinance adopted by the Glenview Village Board of Trustees on August 6, the Village recognizes the importance of providing fair housing opportunities for all persons who seek to live in the Village, and also the importance of protecting the rights of landlords with regard to the selection of tenants based on non-discriminatory criteria.

Faced with the implementation of an ordinance passed by Cook County that changes the long-standing County policy of allowing landlords to choose whether to participate in the federal Section 8 housing voucher program, the Village Board exercised its home rule authority (as specifically permitted in the County ordinance) to enact an ordinance that maintained the status quo. The intention, as stated by several Trustees, was to revisit the decision after staff has had time to study the County’s intent in passing its ordinance and its impact on Glenview landlords and tenants.

The Ordinance adopted by the Village of Glenview does not prohibit the use of Section 8 housing assistance vouchers in the Village and does not, in any way, violate federal, state or county fair housing laws. It simply restored a landlord’s choice as to whether to participate in such a program.

Patch recently published a public letter submitted by Open Communities, a North Shore nonprofit that advocates for equal housing rights, which challenged the Glenview ordinance.

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