Pest Control for Chicago Apartments (2026)

Last updated: March 18, 2026

By James — Founder of Pest Control Pricing

More than 50% of Chicago residents are renters, and the city's dense housing stock, aging building infrastructure, and harsh winters create conditions where pest problems in apartments are both common and difficult to resolve. Chicago's mix of vintage courtyard buildings, two-flats, three-flats, high-rise towers, and converted loft spaces means that pest control is never a one-size-fits-all situation. A cockroach problem in a 1920s two-flat in Logan Square requires a fundamentally different approach than a mouse infestation in a Lakeview walk-up or a bed bug situation in an Uptown high-rise. The one constant across all of these situations is that Chicago tenants have some of the strongest legal protections in the country when it comes to pest control in rental housing.

The Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO) is one of the most tenant-friendly housing laws in the United States. It places clear responsibility on landlords to maintain pest-free conditions and provides specific legal remedies when they fail to do so. If you are dealing with pests in your Chicago apartment, understanding your rights under the RLTO is as important as understanding the pests themselves. This guide covers both: the pests that plague Chicago apartments, your legal rights and step-by-step process for getting your landlord to act, the costs involved, which neighborhoods have the worst problems, and where to get help when you need it.

For general pest control pricing in the Chicago area, see our Chicago pest control cost guide. For apartment pest control guidance that applies nationwide, see our pest control in apartments guide.

Common Pests in Chicago Apartments

The pests that infest Chicago apartments are driven by the city's climate, building stock, and density. Understanding which pest you are dealing with helps you communicate effectively with your landlord and evaluate whether the treatment approach is appropriate.

German Cockroaches: The Number One Problem

German cockroaches (Blattella germanica) are by far the most common pest in Chicago apartments. They are smaller than the American cockroaches (palmetto bugs) found in southern cities, typically measuring half an inch to five-eighths of an inch long, light brown with two dark stripes behind the head. German cockroaches live exclusively indoors. They do not fly and they do not come from outside. They are spread from unit to unit through shared walls, plumbing chases, electrical conduits, and by hitchhiking on grocery bags, cardboard boxes, and secondhand furniture and appliances. A single female German cockroach and her offspring can theoretically produce over 300,000 descendants in one year under ideal conditions.

German cockroaches are primarily found in kitchens and bathrooms, where they have access to food, water, and warmth. They hide during the day in cracks and crevices behind appliances, under sinks, inside electrical outlet plates, behind baseboards, and in the gaps around pipe penetrations. They emerge at night to feed. If you turn on a kitchen light at night and see cockroaches scatter, you likely have a significant population. Seeing cockroaches during the day indicates an especially large infestation where the hiding spots are overcrowded.

Effective German cockroach treatment requires gel baits, bait stations, and insect growth regulators applied in a targeted manner to cracks, crevices, and harborage areas. Spray pesticides alone are not effective against German cockroaches in apartments. In fact, spray treatments can worsen the problem by scattering cockroaches into adjacent units and into wall voids where they are harder to reach. If your landlord sends someone to spray baseboards for cockroaches, that approach is outdated and ineffective. Demand professional treatment with baits and growth regulators. For more on cockroach treatment methods and costs, see our cockroach exterminator cost guide and our guide to getting rid of cockroaches.

Mice: October through March Invasion

House mice are the second most common apartment pest in Chicago. Mouse activity spikes dramatically from October through March as falling outdoor temperatures drive mice to seek shelter, warmth, and food inside buildings. Mice can squeeze through gaps as small as a quarter of an inch (roughly the diameter of a pencil), which means they can enter apartments through gaps under doors, around pipe penetrations, through cracks in foundation walls, and through deteriorated weatherstripping. Once inside the building envelope, mice travel between units through wall voids, ceiling spaces, and gaps around plumbing and electrical runs.

Signs of mice in your apartment include small dark droppings (about the size of a grain of rice), gnaw marks on food packaging, scratching sounds in walls at night, and a distinctive musty odor. Mice are not just a nuisance pest. They carry diseases, contaminate food, damage wiring (creating fire risk), and their droppings and urine can trigger asthma symptoms, particularly in children. Mouse infestations in apartment buildings cannot be solved by trapping in a single unit. Effective control requires building-wide exclusion (sealing entry points) combined with trapping and, in severe infestations, professional rodenticide placement in secured bait stations. For more on mouse treatment costs, see our mouse exterminator cost guide.

Norway Rats: Basements and Alleys

Chicago has been ranked the most rat-infested city in the United States for multiple consecutive years. Norway rats are the dominant species, thriving in the city's alley system, older sewer infrastructure, and dense residential neighborhoods. In apartment buildings, rats are most commonly found in basements, crawl spaces, ground-floor units, and in the alleys behind buildings. They enter through foundation gaps, damaged sewer connections, gaps around utility lines, and through open or poorly sealed basement windows. Norway rats are larger than mice (typically 7 to 10 inches body length plus tail), more cautious, and more destructive. They can gnaw through wood, soft concrete, and aluminum to gain entry. Rat infestations in apartment buildings are a serious health and safety issue, and the landlord is legally obligated to address them promptly. The city of Chicago runs an aggressive rat baiting and abatement program, and residents can report rat sightings through 311.

Bed Bugs: A Top-Three City

Chicago consistently ranks among the top three cities in the United States for bed bug infestations. The city's dense multi-unit housing stock, high resident turnover in many neighborhoods, and extensive public transit system all contribute to bed bug spread. Bed bugs travel between units through shared walls, electrical outlets, plumbing penetrations, and along baseboards. They also spread through common areas like hallways and laundry rooms. In apartment buildings, a bed bug infestation that starts in one unit will eventually spread to adjacent and nearby units if not treated comprehensively.

Signs of bed bugs include small reddish-brown insects (about the size of an apple seed) in mattress seams, box spring folds, and bed frame joints; small dark spots of fecal staining on sheets and mattresses; and itchy bite marks that often appear in lines or clusters on exposed skin. Bed bug treatment in apartments is more complex and expensive than most other pest treatments. Heat treatment ($1,000 to $3,000 per unit) is the most effective single-visit option. Chemical treatment requires multiple visits over several weeks. In either case, adjacent units should be inspected and treated if bed bugs are found. For detailed pricing, see our Chicago bed bug treatment cost guide and our Chicago bed bug infestation guide.

Silverfish

Silverfish are small, wingless insects with a distinctive silver-gray, fish-shaped body. They thrive in humid environments and are commonly found in Chicago apartments with moisture issues, particularly in bathrooms, under kitchen sinks, in basement units, and in buildings with poor ventilation. Silverfish feed on starchy materials including paper, book bindings, wallpaper paste, cardboard, and some textiles. While they do not bite or transmit disease, they can damage books, documents, and clothing. Silverfish infestations often indicate an underlying moisture problem that should be addressed. Reducing humidity through dehumidifiers, fixing leaking pipes, and improving ventilation will reduce silverfish populations over time. Professional treatment involves applying insecticidal dust to cracks, crevices, and harborage areas.

Pantry Moths

Indian meal moths are the most common pantry moth in Chicago apartments. They are typically introduced through infested dry goods such as flour, rice, cereal, dried fruit, pet food, and birdseed purchased from grocery stores. The first sign of pantry moths is usually small moths (about half an inch wingspan) flying around the kitchen, particularly near cabinets and pantry areas. Larvae spin silky webs in food packages and leave behind small worm-like larvae in infested products. Treatment involves discarding all infested food products, thoroughly cleaning pantry shelves and cabinets, and using pheromone traps to monitor for remaining moths. Professional treatment is usually not necessary for pantry moths unless the infestation is severe. Store all dry goods in sealed glass or plastic containers to prevent reinfestation.

Chicago Tenant Rights: Pest Control in Rental Housing

Chicago tenants have some of the strongest legal protections in the country when it comes to pest control in rental housing. Two main laws govern landlord responsibilities for pest control in Chicago apartments.

Chicago Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance (RLTO), Municipal Code 5-12-110

The RLTO applies to most residential rental units in Chicago (with limited exceptions for owner-occupied buildings with six or fewer units). Under Section 5-12-110, landlords must maintain the rental premises in compliance with the Chicago building code and all applicable health and safety ordinances. This includes maintaining the building in a condition free of pest infestations. The RLTO provides specific legal remedies when the landlord fails to meet this obligation, including the right to repair-and-deduct, the right to withhold rent in certain circumstances, and the right to terminate the lease if the landlord fails to maintain habitable conditions after proper notice.

Chicago Municipal Code 7-28: Pest Control Requirements

Municipal Code Chapter 7-28 specifically addresses pest control responsibilities for building owners. It requires owners to maintain buildings free of infestations by rodents, insects, and other pests. The code authorizes the city to issue citations and fines to building owners who fail to maintain pest-free conditions. Violations can result in fines of $300 to $1,000 per day. The Department of Buildings enforces this code through inspections, which can be triggered by tenant complaints filed through 311. This code applies to all residential buildings in Chicago regardless of the number of units.

Written Notice Requirement

Before exercising any legal remedy under the RLTO, you must provide your landlord with written notice of the pest problem. The notice should be specific: describe the type of pest, the location in the unit, when you first noticed the problem, and the severity. Include dated photographs if possible. Send the notice by email (to create a timestamp) and by certified mail (to create proof of delivery). Keep copies of all correspondence. Written notice starts the clock on the landlord's 14-day response period under the RLTO. Without written notice, your legal remedies are significantly weakened. Verbal complaints, text messages to a maintenance worker, or conversations with the building manager may not satisfy the written notice requirement. Put it in writing, be specific, and keep records.

14-Day Response Period

After receiving written notice of a habitability issue (including pest infestations), the landlord has 14 days to begin addressing the problem. "Begin addressing" means taking reasonable steps to resolve the infestation, not necessarily completing all treatment within 14 days. For cockroaches and mice, a reasonable response within 14 days would be scheduling professional pest control treatment. For bed bugs, which require more complex treatment, the landlord should have an inspection scheduled and a treatment plan in place within 14 days. If the landlord does nothing within 14 days, the tenant's legal remedies become available.

Repair-and-Deduct Rights

If the landlord fails to act within 14 days of receiving written notice, you have the right to hire a licensed pest control company yourself and deduct the cost from your next rent payment. The maximum deduction is the greater of $500 or one-half of your monthly rent. For example, if your rent is $1,400 per month, you can deduct up to $700 for pest control costs. Keep the receipt from the pest control company, send a copy to the landlord along with your reduced rent payment, and include a letter referencing Section 5-12-110 of the RLTO and explaining the deduction. This is a powerful remedy that most tenants are not aware of.

Rent Withholding

In severe cases where the landlord has failed to address a pest infestation that materially affects habitability (such as a severe rat infestation, a building-wide cockroach problem, or a multi-unit bed bug infestation), tenants may have the right to withhold rent. Rent withholding is a more aggressive remedy than repair-and-deduct and carries more legal risk. Before withholding rent, consult with the Metropolitan Tenants Organization or a tenant rights attorney. Improperly withholding rent can result in eviction proceedings. The RLTO provides specific protections for tenants who withhold rent due to habitability violations, but these protections apply only when the proper notice procedures have been followed.

Cook County Ordinance (for Suburban Tenants)

Tenants in Cook County suburbs outside Chicago city limits are covered by the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance, which provides similar but not identical protections. The Cook County ordinance also requires landlords to maintain habitable conditions and provides remedies for tenants when landlords fail to address pest problems. However, the specific provisions and procedures differ from the Chicago RLTO, so suburban tenants should review the Cook County ordinance specifically. Contact the Cook County Legal Aid for assistance with suburban tenant rights.

Step-by-Step: What to Do When You Have Pests

The following process gives you the best chance of getting your landlord to act quickly and preserves your legal options if they do not.

Step 1: Document the Problem

Before contacting your landlord, gather evidence. Take clear, dated photographs of the pests themselves (if visible), droppings, damage, nest materials, or other signs of infestation. Note the specific locations where you are seeing pest activity (kitchen cabinets, under the bathroom sink, along the bedroom baseboard, etc.). Record the dates when you first noticed the problem and any changes in severity over time. If you are seeing pests during the day (cockroaches) or hearing sounds at night (mice scratching in walls), note these observations with dates and times. This documentation serves two purposes: it helps the pest control professional understand the scope of the problem, and it creates a record that supports your legal position if the landlord fails to act.

Step 2: Notify Your Landlord in Writing

Send written notice to your landlord describing the pest problem in specific terms. Include the type of pest (or your best description if you are unsure of the species), the locations in your unit where you are seeing activity, when you first noticed the problem, the current severity, and a clear request for professional pest control treatment within 14 days. Attach your photographs. Send this notice by email (for the timestamp and convenience) and by certified mail with return receipt (for proof of delivery). Address the notice to the landlord or management company listed on your lease. If your building has a property manager, send the notice to both the property manager and the building owner if you have the owner's contact information. Keep copies of everything.

Step 3: Request a Professional Treatment Timeline

When your landlord responds, ask for a specific timeline: when will the pest control company come, what treatment method will they use, and will they treat your unit only or multiple units. For cockroaches and mice, building-wide treatment is far more effective than single-unit treatment. If the landlord proposes to send a maintenance worker with a can of spray rather than hiring a licensed pest control company, push back. Under Municipal Code 7-28, pest control in commercial and residential buildings should be performed by licensed professionals. A maintenance worker applying over-the-counter pesticides is not professional pest control and is unlikely to resolve the problem.

Step 4: Follow Up at 7 Days

If you have not heard back from your landlord within one week of sending written notice, send a follow-up communication referencing your original notice, restating the problem, and noting that you have not received a response. This follow-up demonstrates that you are making good-faith efforts to resolve the issue through communication before pursuing legal remedies. Include any new photographs or observations about the problem worsening. State clearly that if professional treatment is not scheduled within the remaining 7 days (14 days from original notice), you intend to exercise your rights under the RLTO.

Step 5: RLTO Remedies at 14 Days

If 14 days have passed since your written notice and the landlord has not taken action, you have several options available under the RLTO:

• Repair-and-deduct: Hire a licensed pest control company, pay for the treatment, and deduct the cost (up to the greater of $500 or half your monthly rent) from your next rent payment. Send the landlord a copy of the invoice and a letter explaining the deduction.
• File a 311 complaint: Call 311 or file online to report the pest infestation. This triggers a potential inspection by the Department of Buildings, which can result in code violation citations and fines against the landlord.
• Contact the Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO): MTO provides free counseling and assistance to Chicago tenants dealing with landlord issues including pest infestations. They can advise you on your specific situation and help you navigate the legal process. Call the MTO hotline at (773) 292-4980.
• Consult an attorney: For severe or ongoing infestations where the landlord refuses to act, consulting a tenant rights attorney may be appropriate. RLTO violations can result in damages, attorney fees, and other remedies. Several legal aid organizations in Chicago provide free tenant rights representation for qualifying individuals.

Why Building-Wide Treatment Is Essential

One of the most frustrating aspects of apartment pest control is the failure of single-unit treatment. Understanding why building-wide treatment is necessary helps you advocate effectively with your landlord for the right approach.

Cockroaches Travel Through Shared Infrastructure

German cockroaches move between apartment units through shared plumbing walls, electrical conduit runs, gaps around pipe penetrations, HVAC ducts, and even through electrical outlet and switch plate openings in shared walls. When a pest control company treats one unit, the chemical treatment and bait application creates an unfavorable environment for cockroaches in that unit. But it does not kill cockroaches in adjacent units. The displaced cockroaches simply move to the nearest untreated space and continue breeding. Within weeks or months, they recolonize the treated unit from the surrounding untreated units. This cycle of treat, disperse, and recolonize can continue indefinitely unless all connected units are treated simultaneously. In a typical Chicago two-flat or three-flat, effective cockroach control requires treating every unit in the building at the same time, along with common areas like basements, hallways, and laundry rooms.

Mice Use Wall Voids as Highways

Mice do not respect unit boundaries. They travel through wall voids, ceiling spaces, and gaps around plumbing and electrical runs throughout the entire building. A mouse in your apartment may be nesting two floors up and traveling to your kitchen through a path inside the walls. Trapping mice in one unit does nothing to address the population living in the building's infrastructure. Effective mouse control requires building-wide exclusion (sealing entry points at the exterior and between units) combined with trapping in all active areas. Without building-wide exclusion, new mice will continue entering the building and finding their way to individual units through the same pathways.

Bed Bugs Spread to Adjacent Units

Bed bugs spread between apartments through shared walls, along electrical wiring and plumbing pipes, through cracks in shared walls, and via common-area hallways. They can also spread when infested furniture is moved through hallways or placed in common storage areas. When bed bugs are confirmed in one unit, adjacent units (above, below, and on both sides) should be inspected and treated if bed bugs are found. Failing to inspect and treat adjacent units virtually guarantees that the infestation will return to the treated unit from the untreated neighboring units. Landlords who treat only the unit where bed bugs were reported are taking a short-term approach that leads to ongoing costs and tenant frustration.

Landlord Responsibility for Whole-Building Treatment

Under Chicago Municipal Code 7-28, building owners are responsible for maintaining pest-free conditions throughout the building, not just in the unit that reported the problem. A landlord who treats one unit while ignoring an obvious building-wide infestation is not meeting their obligation under the code. When communicating with your landlord about pest treatment, emphasize that single-unit treatment for cockroaches, mice, and bed bugs is documented to fail in multi-unit buildings, and that building-wide treatment is the professional standard of care. If your landlord insists on treating only your unit despite evidence of building-wide infestation, document this refusal in writing and pursue your RLTO remedies.

What Apartment Pest Control Costs in Chicago

Under Chicago law, pest control costs are the landlord's responsibility, not the tenant's. However, understanding the costs is important for two reasons: it helps you evaluate whether your landlord is spending enough to actually solve the problem, and it establishes the deduction amount if you exercise your repair-and-deduct rights under the RLTO.

If you use the repair-and-deduct remedy, your maximum deduction is the greater of $500 or one-half of your monthly rent. For most Chicago apartments, this covers the cost of a general pest control treatment or a single mouse exclusion visit. Bed bug heat treatment often exceeds the repair-and-deduct cap, in which case you may need to pursue other remedies (311 complaint, MTO assistance, or legal action) to compel the landlord to pay for the full treatment.

For comprehensive pest control pricing in Chicago, see our Chicago pest control cost guide. For national apartment pest control information, see pest control in apartments. For the national cost overview, visit our pest control cost guide.

Chicago Neighborhoods with the Worst Apartment Pest Problems

Pest problems exist in every Chicago neighborhood, but certain areas have higher rates of infestation due to building age, housing density, building maintenance levels, and environmental factors. The following neighborhoods are among the most affected.

Uptown and Edgewater

These North Side neighborhoods feature a high concentration of older high-rise apartment buildings built in the 1920s through 1960s. Many of these buildings have complex plumbing, heating, and ventilation systems that provide extensive pathways for pest movement between units. German cockroach infestations are extremely common in these buildings, particularly in units with older kitchens and bathrooms. The high resident turnover in some Uptown buildings contributes to pest spread, as new tenants may unknowingly move into units with existing cockroach populations, and departing tenants may transport bed bugs to their next residence. The lakefront location of many Edgewater buildings creates moisture conditions that support silverfish and centipede populations in basement and ground-floor units.

Logan Square and Humboldt Park

These West Side neighborhoods are characterized by the classic Chicago two-flat and three-flat building form. These small multi-unit buildings share walls, plumbing, and often heating systems between just two or three units. When cockroaches or mice appear in one unit of a two-flat, they are almost certainly present in the other unit as well. The shared infrastructure in these smaller buildings makes building-wide treatment especially important, but it also makes it easier to coordinate because there are fewer units involved. Many two-flats and three-flats in these neighborhoods were built between 1900 and 1930, with construction characteristics (balloon framing, minimal insulation, gaps around original plumbing) that provide extensive pest pathways. Owner-occupied two-flats where the owner lives in one unit and rents the other may have better maintenance and faster response to pest issues than investor-owned properties.

Pilsen and Little Village

These South Side neighborhoods have dense multi-family housing stock with a high proportion of older buildings. Many buildings in Pilsen and Little Village have been subdivided into multiple small units over the decades, sometimes with informal plumbing and electrical work that creates additional pest entry points. The density of housing, combined with some buildings that have deferred maintenance, creates conditions where cockroach and mouse infestations are persistent. Language barriers can complicate tenant-landlord communication about pest issues for Spanish-speaking tenants. The Metropolitan Tenants Organization and several local legal aid organizations provide bilingual assistance for tenants in these neighborhoods.

Rogers Park

Rogers Park's lakefront location and dense mix of vintage apartment buildings create elevated pest pressure. Moisture from Lake Michigan proximity supports silverfish, centipede, and cockroach populations. Many buildings in Rogers Park are large multi-unit structures with complex infrastructure that allows pests to move freely between units. The neighborhood's mix of student housing (near Loyola University) and long-term residential units creates variable turnover rates that can complicate pest management. Buildings near the lake also experience mouse and rat pressure, as the dense vegetation and park lands along the lakefront provide outdoor rodent habitat close to residential buildings.

Lakeview and Lincoln Park

These popular North Side neighborhoods have a high concentration of walk-up apartment buildings (three to six stories without elevators) built between 1900 and 1960. Bed bugs are a significant concern in these neighborhoods due to the high resident turnover, active social scene, and frequent travel that characterize the young professional demographic. Walk-up apartments with older construction share walls, plumbing, and structural voids that facilitate pest movement. German cockroaches are common in buildings with older kitchens, and mice are a perennial winter problem in walk-ups with aging weatherstripping and foundation gaps.

Hyde Park and South Shore

Hyde Park and South Shore feature a mix of large historic apartment buildings, smaller multi-family structures, and some newer construction. The larger buildings, particularly those built in the early to mid-twentieth century, can have persistent cockroach and mouse infestations that are difficult to eradicate due to the size and complexity of the building infrastructure. Some buildings in these neighborhoods have experienced deferred maintenance that contributes to pest problems by creating entry points, moisture conditions, and harborage areas. The University of Chicago campus area in Hyde Park has specific pest management programs, but surrounding residential buildings may not receive the same level of attention.

What You Can Do to Prevent Pests in Your Apartment

While pest control is ultimately the landlord's legal responsibility, there are practical steps you can take to make your unit less attractive to pests and reduce the severity of infestations. Prevention does not eliminate the landlord's obligation, but it can reduce the frequency and severity of pest problems you experience.

Kitchen Cleanliness

German cockroaches depend on food and water access. Keeping your kitchen clean removes the food sources that support cockroach populations. Wipe down counters, stovetops, and tables after every meal. Sweep or vacuum the kitchen floor daily, paying attention to areas under and behind appliances where crumbs accumulate. Do not leave dirty dishes in the sink overnight. Store all dry goods (flour, sugar, cereal, rice, pasta) in sealed glass or plastic containers rather than the original packaging, which cockroaches can chew through. Keep pet food in sealed containers and do not leave pet food bowls out overnight. Clean under the refrigerator and stove periodically, as these are prime cockroach harborage areas.

Daily Trash Removal

Take trash out of your apartment daily, especially food waste. Use a trash can with a tight-fitting lid inside the unit. Do not let bags of trash accumulate in the kitchen or near the door. In multi-unit buildings, use the building's trash chute or dumpster rather than leaving bags in the hallway. Food waste in trash bags is a primary attractant for cockroaches, mice, and rats. Recycling containers should be rinsed before being placed in the recycling bin, as residual food in cans and bottles attracts pests.

Seal Pipe Gaps and Entry Points

Inspect the gaps around all pipe penetrations in your apartment, particularly under the kitchen sink, under the bathroom sink, and behind the toilet. In many older Chicago apartments, the holes cut for plumbing are significantly larger than the pipes, leaving gaps that cockroaches and mice use as highways between units. You can seal these gaps temporarily with steel wool (for mice), caulk, or expanding foam. While structural repairs are the landlord's responsibility, filling obvious gaps is a practical step that can significantly reduce pest traffic into your unit. Also check around electrical outlets and switch plates on shared walls, as these can be entry points for cockroaches.

Door Sweeps

The gap under your apartment door is a major entry point for cockroaches and mice, particularly if the door opens to a common hallway. Self-adhesive door sweeps cost a few dollars, install in minutes without tools, and close the gap that allows pests to walk directly into your unit from the hallway. This is especially important in buildings with known cockroach or mouse problems. If your landlord will not install a proper door sweep, a temporary adhesive sweep is a low-cost, renter-friendly solution.

Report Plumbing Leaks Promptly

Cockroaches, silverfish, and centipedes are attracted to moisture. Leaking pipes under sinks, dripping faucets, and condensation on cold-water pipes all provide the water that these pests need. Report plumbing leaks to your landlord immediately. In addition to reducing pest attractants, fixing leaks prevents water damage and mold growth. If you have a persistent leak that your landlord has not repaired, document it and include it in your written pest complaint, as the moisture is likely contributing to the pest problem.

Inspect Secondhand Furniture Before Bringing It Inside

Bed bugs, German cockroaches, and their eggs can hitchhike on secondhand furniture, particularly upholstered items, mattresses, and wooden bed frames. Before bringing any used furniture into your apartment, inspect it thoroughly for signs of bed bugs (small reddish-brown insects, dark fecal spots, shed skins) and cockroaches (egg cases, droppings, live insects). Avoid picking up furniture left on the curb or in alleys, as it may have been discarded specifically because of a pest infestation. If you purchase used furniture from a thrift store or online marketplace, inspect it outdoors before bringing it inside your building.

Hot Dryer After Travel

Bed bugs spread through travel, hitchhiking in luggage and clothing. After returning from any trip (hotel stay, visiting friends or family, or any overnight stay away from home), wash and dry all clothing on the highest heat setting the fabric can tolerate. High heat (above 120 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes) kills all stages of bed bugs. Inspect your luggage before bringing it into your bedroom. Consider storing luggage in a sealed bag or in a closet away from the bedroom between trips. This practice is especially important for Chicago residents because the city's high bed bug prevalence means the risk of encountering them during travel or in other people's homes is significant.

Mattress Encasements

Bed bug-proof mattress and box spring encasements are zippered covers that completely enclose the mattress, preventing bed bugs from infesting it and making it easier to detect bed bugs on the smooth exterior surface. Encasements cost $30 to $80 per mattress and are a worthwhile investment for any Chicago apartment resident. They do not prevent bed bugs from entering your apartment, but they eliminate the mattress as a harborage site and make early detection easier. If your building has a history of bed bugs, encasements are strongly recommended for every bed in the unit.

Chicago Tenant Resources for Pest Problems

If your landlord is not responding to pest complaints, several organizations in Chicago provide free assistance to tenants.

Metropolitan Tenants Organization (MTO)

MTO is a nonprofit tenant advocacy organization that provides free counseling, legal assistance, and organizing support to Chicago renters. They can help you understand your rights under the RLTO, draft written notice to your landlord, navigate the repair-and-deduct process, and connect you with legal representation if needed. Call the MTO hotline at (773) 292-4980 or visit their office for walk-in assistance. MTO has extensive experience with pest-related tenant issues and is one of the most valuable resources available to Chicago renters.

311 (City of Chicago Service Request)

Calling 311 or filing a request online through the City of Chicago 311 portal allows you to report pest problems in your apartment building. Your complaint may trigger an inspection by the Department of Buildings, which can issue code violation citations and fines against the landlord. A 311 complaint creates an official city record of the problem, which is valuable if you later need to pursue legal action against the landlord. You can file 311 complaints for rats, mice, cockroaches, bed bugs, and other pest issues. For rat sightings in alleys and exterior areas, 311 can also dispatch the city's rodent baiting program.

Legal Aid Chicago

Legal Aid Chicago provides free legal services to qualifying low-income Chicago residents. Their housing unit handles tenant rights cases including landlord failure to address pest infestations. If your landlord has refused to address a documented pest problem despite proper notice, Legal Aid Chicago may be able to represent you in pursuing legal remedies under the RLTO. Contact Legal Aid Chicago at (312) 341-1070 to determine eligibility for assistance.

Illinois Tenants Union

The Illinois Tenants Union provides tenant rights information, referrals, and advocacy for renters throughout Illinois. They can help you understand your rights, draft correspondence to your landlord, and connect you with legal resources. Their services are particularly useful for tenants in Cook County suburbs outside Chicago who are covered by the Cook County ordinance rather than the RLTO.

Cook County Legal Aid for Housing

For tenants in Cook County suburbs outside Chicago city limits, Cook County legal aid organizations can provide assistance with tenant rights under the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. The suburban ordinance provides protections similar to the Chicago RLTO, but the specific provisions and procedures differ. Legal aid can help suburban tenants understand their rights and pursue remedies for landlord failure to address pest problems.

For general pest control pricing across the Chicago metro, see our Chicago pest control cost guide. For state-level information, see Illinois pest control costs. For national apartment pest control guidance, visit our pest control in apartments guide. For the LA-specific version of this guide, see pest control for LA apartments. For more on the national cost picture, see our pest control cost guide.

Frequently Asked Questions