Andrew Beavers, the county’s vacation rental administrator in the land services department, told the Housing and Redevelopment Authority at its Dec. 17 meeting that the county’s vacation‑rental program has matured since the license began in 2020 and that staff are now using onsite verification and new mapping tools to improve compliance.

Beavers said the county adopted the vacation‑rental ordinance in 2019 with the license effective in 2020 at $200 per year. The board raised the fee to $400 after a 2022 committee review, and commissioners voted in November 2024 to raise the fee to $600. Beavers said the increase led to a substantial rise in fee revenue for 2025 and drew complaints from some operators, while some independent resort‑style unit owners elected to return to resort management rather than carry an independent Cook County license.

Why it matters: the fee and licensing regime provide both data and enforcement tools the county uses to manage density and public‑health requirements. Beavers said the county’s approach now combines active compliance checks with verification of septic inspections, lodging‑tax remittance and other requirements before staff initiates enforcement.

Key facts presented by Beavers included that the program saw roughly a 9% jump in licenses from 2023 to 2024 (largely from compliance checks identifying previously unregistered listings) and a smaller 3.6% increase in 2025. He reported 372 licensed rentals in 2024 and, as of the Dec. 1–Jan. 31 renewal period, 204 renewals completed (about 45% of last year’s total). Renewals open Dec. 1 and close Jan. 31; late registration carries a $500 fee, and staff said an after‑the‑fact penalty for operating without a license is $800.

On enforcement, Beavers said staff first attempt cordial outreach with evidence (listing screenshots, availability calendars, recent reviews) and a 15‑day cure window, then issue a second notice before assessing penalties; legal referral is a last resort and has been uncommon given county attorney bandwidth.

Beavers also described a GIS mapping project being beta‑tested to plot vacation‑rental locations down to commissioner districts; the map is currently used by staff and can be shared with commissioners for district meetings, but staff said they are weighing how to publish a public‑facing map without creating safety risks for property owners.

Area examples and policy triggers: the county’s 2022 committee recommended a threshold of 395 licensed rentals that would prompt reconvening the committee to revisit density and rule changes. Beavers gave two local examples: Cascade Beach Road (114 lakeshore parcels, 27 licensed vacation rentals, about 21%) and Devil Track Lake (about 240 lakeshore parcels, 17 licensed rentals, 12 clustered near Skyport Lodge), showing how density can be concentrated in particular neighborhoods.

Board members asked whether the growth reflected new construction or conversions; Beavers said new construction is a small share and that most increases come from existing rentals changing hands or being newly registered after outreach. He said septic compliance (six‑year inspection cycle) and lodging‑tax compliance are regular parts of license approval.

What’s next: Beavers said staff will continue outreach during the winter planning season, refine the GIS tools, and provide commissioners with district‑level data. He offered to follow up individually with commissioners and to provide additional details if requested.

Representative quote: "The renewal period runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 31. If they don't complete it by then, there is a late registration fee of $500," Beavers said, summarizing key compliance deadlines.

Ending: The board thanked Beavers and moved on to other agenda items; commissioners indicated they would revisit density and public‑access questions if the rental counts approach the 395 threshold.