ADMINISTRATIVE CODE
TITLE 47: HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
CHAPTER II: ILLINOIS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
PART 395 STATE HOUSING APPEALS BOARD
SECTION 395.103 DEFINITIONS


 

Section 395.103  Definitions

 

The following terms used in this Part shall have the following definitions:

 

"Act": The Affordable Housing Planning and Appeal Act [310 ILCS 67].

 

"Affordable housing": Housing that has a value or cost or rental amount that is within the means of a household that may occupy moderate-income housing or low-income housing. 

 

In the case of owner-occupied dwelling units, affordable housing means housing in which mortgage, amortization, taxes, insurance and condominium or association fees, if any, constitute no more than 30% of the gross annual household income for a household of the size that may occupy the dwelling unit. 

 

In the case of dwelling units for rent, affordable housing means housing for which the rent and utilities constitute no more than 30% of the gross annual household income for a household of the size that may occupy the dwelling unit.  In the case of dwelling units for rent, the costs of any required parking, maintenance or landlord-imposed fees are to be included in the calculation of affordable housing if available from the U.S. Census Bureau.

 

"Affordable housing developer": A nonprofit entity, limited equity cooperative or public agency, or private individual, firm, corporation, or other entity seeking to build an Affordable housing development.

 

"Affordable housing development": Any housing that is subsidized by the federal or State government, or any housing in which at least 20% of the dwelling units are subject to covenants or restrictions that require the dwelling units to be sold or rented at prices that preserve them as affordable housing for a period of at least 15 years, in the case of owner-occupied housing, and at least 30 years, in the case of rental housing. [310 ILCS 67/15]

 

"Affordable housing plan": A plan approved by a non-exempt local government as set forth in Section 25 of the Act and submitted to IHDA for review and subsequent approval.

 

"Appellant": Any of the following parties:

 

The affordable housing developer of the proposed affordable housing development;

 

A person who would be eligible to apply for residency in the proposed affordable housing development; or

 

A housing organization whose geographic focus area includes the municipality, or county if in an unincorporated area, where the proposed affordable housing development is located. [310 ILCS 67/30]

 

"Approving authority": The governing body of the local government.

 

"Area median household income": The median household income adjusted for family size for applicable income limit areas as determined annually by HUD under Section 8 of the United States Housing Act of 1937 (42 U.S.C. 1437).  [310 ILCS 67/15]

 

"Board": The State Housing Appeals Board.

 

"Chairperson": The Chairperson of the Board.

 

"Contumacious Conduct": A willful disobedience of the Board's order.

 

"Days": Calendar days.  Due dates under this Part falling on a Saturday, Sunday or a legal State or federal holiday shall be deemed to fall on the next calendar day that is not a Saturday, Sunday or a legal State or federal holiday.

 

"Development": Any building, construction, renovation or excavation, or any material change in any structure or land, or change in the use of a structure or land, that results in a net increase in the number of dwelling units in a structure or on a parcel of land by more than one dwelling unit.

 

"Dwelling unit": Real property located within the State upon which there is located a structure or structures that are a single family home, a condominium or a multi-unit residential structure that is the principal residence of the household that resides in the unit.

 

"Exempt local government": Any local government in which at least 10% of its total year-round housing units are affordable housing, as determined by IHDA pursuant to Section 20 of the Act, or any municipality with a population under 1,000.

 

"Household": The person or persons occupying a Dwelling Unit.

 

"Housing Organization": A trade or industry group engaged in construction or management of housing units, or a nonprofit organization whose mission includes providing or advocating for increased access to housing for low- and moderate-income households.

 

"HUD":  The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development.

 

"IHDA": The Illinois Housing Development Authority.

 

"IHDA Act": The Illinois Housing Development Act [20 ILCS 3805].

 

"IHDA Chairman": The chairman of IHDA.

 

"Local Government": A county or a municipality, including home rule units and counties and municipalities other than home rule units, as described in Article VII of the Constitution of the State of Illinois.

 

"Low-Income Housing": Housing that is affordable, according to HUD, for either home ownership or rental and that is occupied, reserved or marketed for occupancy by Households with a gross household income that does not exceed 50% of the Area Median Household Income.

 

"Member": A member of the State Housing Appeals Board.

 

"Moderate-Income Housing": Housing that is affordable, according to HUD, for either home ownership or rental, and that is occupied, reserved or marketed for occupancy by Households with a gross household income that is greater than 50%, but does not exceed 80%, of the Area Median Household Income.

 

"Non-Appealable Local Government Requirements": All essential requirements that protect the public health and safety, including any local building, electrical, fire or plumbing code requirements or those requirements that are critical to the protection or preservation of the environment. [310 ILCS 67/15]  Zoning, density and bulk restrictions may count as Non-Appealable Local Government Requirements if the Board finds that they qualify under the Act's definition of Non-Appealable Local Government Requirements.

 

"Non-Exempt Local Governments": All local governments that do not meet the definition of Exempt Local Governments.

 

"Offices of IHDA": 111 E. Wacker, Suite 1000, Chicago, Illinois 60601.

 

"Public Building": Any building or portion thereof owned or leased by a Public Body. [5 ILCS 120/2.01]

 

"Public Body": All legislative, executive, administrative or advisory bodies of the State, counties, townships, cities, villages, incorporated towns, school districts, and all other municipal corporations, boards, bureaus, committees or commissions of the State, and any subsidiary bodies of any of the foregoing, including, but not limited to, committees and subcommittees supported in whole or in part by tax revenue, or that expend tax revenue, except the General Assembly and committees or commissions of the General Assembly.  [5 ILCS 120/1.02]

 

"State": The State of Illinois.

 

(Source:  Amended at 50 Ill. Reg. 1085, effective January 8, 2026)