Official Website: https://www.oak-forest.org/
Oak Forest City Hall Phone Number: 708-687-4050
Fax: 708-535-0014
Oak Forest is about 24 miles south-southwest of Chicago. Oak Forest is part of the Chicago Metropolitan area. Present day Oak Forest began with a railroad whistle stop on the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad located in a largely forested area of Timber. By the 1880s this particular area of timber was being referred to as the "Oak Forest" due to its abundance of oak trees.
Inspection Information:
Building Inspections
Inspections are required for all permitted work to determine compliance with submitted plans and applicable code. A list of required inspections will be provided at permit issuance. It is the responsibility of the permit holder or their agent to arrange inspections. Typically, this is the owner or the contractor. Inspection requests must be made at least 24 hours in advance. Plumbing, Electric, and Mechanical inspections are typically late afternoon inspections. An approved copy of the plans is required to be available to the inspector at the time of the inspection.
Required inspections for various improvement projects (i.e. deck, fence, swimming pool) can be found by viewing the corresponding Building Guide.
Schedule inspections by calling 708-687-4050 x1040 or by visiting the Building Department at
15440 S. Central Avenue in Oak Forest. You may also email inspection requests to both
mcassidy@oak-forest.org and cweisenberger@oak-forest.org
A $50 re-inspection fee will be charged for each failed inspection or inspection request not cancelled at least two hours prior to inspection. Subsequent re-inspections will be charged $100.
Apartment Inspections
As part of the City's continued effort in protecting the health and welfare of its residents and visitors, the City requires annual registration and inspection of all multi-family buildings. The City currently inspects over 1,800 dwelling units annually. The condition of the structure, dwelling units, and common areas are inspected to ensure compliance with all city codes. Inspections are done from May 1st through September 30th of each year.
Click below for Apartment Registration forms/ reports: Apartment Registration Form/ Tenant List Interior Apartment Inspection Report Exterior Apartment Inspection Report
Crime Free Information:
The City Of Oak Forest implements an ordinance which requires that any owner, agent, or designee of residential rental property is required to utilize the Crime Free Lease Addendum, which shall give the landlords the authority to initiate an eviction proceeding as specified in the Illinois Compiled Statutes Forcible Entry and Detainer statutes. The Addendum, to be added to the lease, cites specific actions that will be taken by the Management when the Tenant or someone under the Tenant’s control is involved in criminal, illegal, or dangerous activity on or near the rental property.
Crime Free Housing
On November 14th 2006, the Oak Forest City Council passed the Crime Free Multi-Housing Program Ordinance. This program is designed to reduce crime, drugs, and gang activity on rental properties; it has been used effectively in over eighteen hundred communities across the United States and in Canada by the year 2006. All rental properties are required to be registered with Oak Forest Crime Free Multi-Housing. The purpose of this program is to try and keep criminals out of our community and neighborhoods.
1. Apply and pay for your rental property license
One (1) to and including Five (5) units: $100
Six (6) to and including Ten (10) units: $150
Eleven (11) to and including Nineteen (19) units: $200
Twenty (20) to and including Thirty (30) units: $300
Thirty-one (31) to and including Forty (40) units: $400
Forty-one (41) or more, with no limit applied: $500
2. Phase 1 Seminar
Consists of the completion of a mandatory seminar conducted here at Oak Forest City Hall, which runs approximately 3-4 hours. It is for property owners and/or their agents or designees. It is taught by trained police personnel which includes crime prevention tactics and explanation of the mandatory implementation of the Crime Free Lease Addendum. This class can be taken in another town but you must get prior approval before attending. After completing the class, you need to provide Oak Forest with a copy of the Phase 1 certificate from the town in which you qualified in.
3. Phase 2 (CPTED) inspection
Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design
Involves assessing/inspecting the physical security and the general appearance of the property, in regards to crime deterrence (refer to CPTED handout for property requirements). An appointment needs to be set up when the property is ready to be inspected, preferably before the tenant moves in. (Phase 2 can be completed before Phase 1)
4. Criminal Background Check
Required for all new tenants over the age of 18.
5. Crime Free Lease Addendum
Must be signed by your tenant(s) and any occupants 18 and older. Only the City of Oak Forest Crime Free Lease Addendum will be allowed and any and all generic forms will not be valid. The criminal background check and the Crime Free lease addendum should be kept in your files along with your signed lease. If a situation should arise on your rental property, you will need to show proof that a criminal background check was completed and the Oak Forest lease addendum was signed by your tenant(s). If you are unable to produce the documents, you may be summoned and fined up to $750.00.
Registration Materials
Crime Free Housing Rental Property License Application
Ofc. Jason Vodnik
Free Housing/Crime Prevention Officer
15440 S. Central Avenue, Oak Forest, IL 60452
708-687-4050 x 1295
Fax: 708-687-6218
jvodnik@oak-forest.org
Crime Book:
Crime Free Multi-Housing Program