Burr Ridge Eyes Stricter Rule On Unrelated People in Homes

BURR RIDGE, IL – The Burr Ridge Village Board may vote Monday on limiting the number of unrelated people living in a house to two.

The current number is five.

The Plan Commission received three comments from residents on the proposal to lower the limit. They all favored it.

Burr Ridge's research found that Darien limits unrelated people in a house to two. Hinsdale, Willowbrook and Oak Brook at are three, while Indian Head Park and Willow Springs are at five, according to Burr Ridge's research.

According to a Burr Ridge memo, the village has experienced code enforcement issues involving unrelated people in single-family houses.

In these situations, people rent rooms from the property owner, who often does not live in the home, the village said.

"This type of arrangement is more closely aligned to a board, rooming or lodging house and creates issues in otherwise single-family residential neighborhoods," the memo said.

In Hinsdale, the village limits homes to three unrelated people.

Three years ago, Hinsdale tried to enforce the rule against a group home for men with addictions.

That drew lawsuits from the home's owner and the federal government, which accused the village of violating the Fair Housing Act.

In February, the village settled the lawsuits with a consent decree. Under its terms, Hinsdale paid $790,000 to Trinity Sober Living, which ran the home.

The Hinsdale Village Board also agreed to Fair Housing Act training and changes to its code to accommodate group homes.