For years, owners and occupants have had the right to request reasonable accommodations or modifications from community associations to allow disabled individuals to fully use and enjoy their units, with assistance animal requests being the most common. Starting January 1, 2025, a new section (18.12) of the Illinois Condominium Property Act will require boards to adopt policies for accommodating disabled unit owners’ requests for accessible parking, ensuring a review process within 45 days.
Even though this requirement is specific to condominium associations, non-condominium associations should also adopt similar policies. The process should outline how to handle all accommodation and modification requests, including assistance animals, with boards advised to make decisions carefully, avoiding hasty denials, ensuring thorough review, and seeking legal advice when necessary. Both state and federal law prioritize housing accessibility for disabled individuals, and boards must handle requests objectively and in compliance with the law.
Learn more here.