Oak Park Reviews Housing Ordinance to Spur Development

Officials are evaluating if current developer mandates are effectively increasing the supply of local rental units.

Updated on Oct. 23, 2026 in Apartments

Oak Park Reviews Housing Ordinance to Spur Development

Live Poll

Should your local government prioritize mandatory inclusionary housing policies even if they might slow new development?

Oak Park committees are evaluating potential changes to the village’s 2019 Inclusionary Housing Ordinance. The review aims to determine if current requirements effectively incentivize new residential construction while maintaining affordable rental options.

Why it matters

Local officials are examining whether the ordinance's mandates are inadvertently stalling development, as no on-site affordable units have been built since the policy began. Understanding these rules is essential for renters and prospective homeowners monitoring housing supply in the area.

The village has collected $4.7 million in fees-in-lieu from developers, though zero on-site affordable units have been built under the ordinance. Currently, 63% of rental units are affordable to households earning 80% of the area median income.

The players

Housing Programs Advisory Committee

A local body tasked with reviewing residential development policies and advising on village housing affordability requirements.

Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force

A designated group of local stakeholders meeting to evaluate the effectiveness of the village's current housing policies.

The details

The ordinance currently applies to developments with 25 or more units, requiring a 10% affordable set-aside or a $100,000 fee-in-lieu payment per unit. An SB Friedman feasibility study suggests that zoning mandates alone are not producing new housing, citing market conditions and property taxes as major hurdles. Committees are now reviewing these thresholds to see if adjusting fees or requirements could better stimulate local residential construction.

The Inclusionary Housing Ordinance was originally passed in 2019.
Housing data collection for the current supply occurred in 2023.
The Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force held its first meeting on October 19, 2026.
The Housing Programs Advisory Committee met to review ordinance changes on October 21, 2026.
The next Ad Hoc Housing Advisory Task Force meeting is scheduled for November 6, 2026.

Financial Planning
Oct. 29
Oak Park Proposes 7.94% Property Tax Levy Increase

Money Landscape

The current review follows the 2019 implementation of the Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, which sought to increase housing stock through developer mandates. Policymakers are now assessing whether this regulatory approach remains viable amid broader market obstacles to new development.

Future changes to the ordinance may influence the pace of new apartment construction and the overall availability of rental units in Oak Park. Residents should monitor committee meetings, as shifts in developer requirements can ultimately impact the supply and pricing of local housing.

The takeaway

The current ordinance has successfully generated funds for the Housing Trust Fund but has not yet yielded on-site affordable units. Residents should keep an eye on upcoming committee meetings as local officials determine the next steps for housing policy.