Chicago Listing Requirements 2026 | IL Disclosure Act, MRED, Radon

Key Information

Chicago listing agents work under the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 77), which requires sellers to complete a statutory disclosure form covering structural, mechanical, environmental, and legal conditions. Radon disclosure under the Illinois Radon Awareness Act applies separately, federal lead-based paint disclosure (42 U.S.C. §4852d) applies to pre-1978 buildings, and listings are placed on MRED MLS. California has a recent AI photo disclosure law (effective 2026); Illinois does not currently have an equivalent.

Pricing: Starting $99/month

Time Required: Complete Chicago listing package in one workflow

The Problem

Chicago listing prep involves stacked obligations: the Illinois statutory disclosure form (765 ILCS 77), the Illinois Radon Awareness Act overlay, federal lead paint on the city's dominant pre-1978 stock, MRED MLS rules, and Chicago-specific transfer requirements. Agents often miss the radon disclosure layer or assume a recent radon test substitutes for the statutory form.

The Solution

BuildMyListing prepares complete Chicago listing packages: 765 ILCS 77 disclosure documentation, radon awareness flagging, federal lead paint for pre-1978 buildings, and photos formatted for MRED MLS submission — all in one workflow.

Key Features

765 ILCS 77 Disclosure Documentation

Walk through each category of the Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Report: structural, mechanical, environmental, boundary, and legal items. Document seller responses with timestamps for the broker file.

Benefit: Complete Illinois disclosure documentation before listing

Radon Awareness Overlay

BuildMyListing flags Illinois radon disclosure obligations separately from the main disclosure form. The Illinois Radon Awareness Act requires sellers to provide an IEMA-issued pamphlet and disclose known radon test results to buyers before contract.

Benefit: Radon disclosure handled as its own required layer

Pre-1978 Lead Paint Auto-Flagging

Most of Chicago's housing stock predates 1978. BuildMyListing flags pre-1978 buildings and produces the federal EPA/HUD lead paint disclosure form along with the required pamphlet acknowledgement.

Benefit: Federal compliance on Chicago's older buildings

MRED MLS Photo Formatting

Auto-format photos to MRED MLS specifications. MRED is the dominant Chicago-area MLS, covering the city, near-suburbs, and most of northern Illinois.

Benefit: MRED-ready submission with no manual resizing

How It Works

Enter Property and Building Details

Input Chicago address, building type (single-family, two-flat, three-flat, condo), construction year, and known condition items. BuildMyListing flags the disclosure layers and the MLS jurisdiction.

Document Statutory Disclosures

Walk through the 765 ILCS 77 disclosure report with the seller, record radon test history and IEMA pamphlet acknowledgement, and complete federal lead paint disclosure for pre-1978 buildings.

Generate MRED MLS Package

Download formatted photos, a marketing-ready property description, and a compliance summary for the broker file documenting the disclosure process.

Compliance Reference

Requirement	Source	What It Covers	Chicago Notes
Residential Real Property Disclosure Report	765 ILCS 77	Standardized form for structural, mechanical, environmental, and legal conditions	Required for most residential sales of 1-4 units in Illinois
Disclosure timing and remedy	765 ILCS 77/35	Form must be provided before signing the contract; buyer may terminate if not provided	Same timing rule applies in Chicago as elsewhere in Illinois
Illinois Radon Awareness Act	Illinois Radon Awareness Act (420 ILCS 46)	Seller must provide IEMA pamphlet and disclose known radon test results	Chicago and northern Illinois have measurable radon prevalence
Federal lead-based paint disclosure	42 U.S.C. §4852d	EPA pamphlet, disclosure form, 10-day inspection opportunity	Applies to nearly all Chicago pre-1978 housing
MRED MLS standards	Midwest Real Estate Data rules	Listing input, photo specifications, accuracy	MLS rules vary; consult MRED member documentation for current specifications
Chicago transfer tax declaration	Chicago Municipal Code Title 3, Ch. 3-33	City and county transfer tax declarations at closing	Closing administrative item; coordinate with title and attorney
Fair Housing compliance in listing copy	42 U.S.C. §3604	Prohibited preferences, descriptions, or limitations based on protected class	MRED enforces against violative language in listing input
IDFPR licensee advertising rules	Illinois Real Estate License Act (225 ILCS 454)	License number, brokerage name, truthful advertising	Applies to all Chicago agent marketing

Common Use Cases

Lincoln Park Two-Flat with Radon History

Scenario: Two-flat built 1912. Prior radon test in 2022 showed levels above the action threshold; mitigation system installed. Seller must disclose both test result and mitigation under the Radon Awareness Act.

Process: Document 765 ILCS 77 disclosure → Include radon test history and mitigation → Federal lead paint for pre-1912 build → Format MRED photos

Compliance: Full statutory + radon + lead paint stack documented, MRED-ready

Gold Coast High-Rise Condo

Scenario: 1972 high-rise condo unit in Gold Coast. Disclosure report covers unit-level items; building-level conditions managed by association. Pre-1978 building requires federal lead paint disclosure.

Process: Complete 765 ILCS 77 for unit-level items → Document building/HOA status → Federal lead paint disclosure → Format MRED photos

Compliance: Disclosure documented, federal lead paint complete, MRED submission ready

Bucktown Three-Flat Resale

Scenario: Three-unit residential built 1908. Seller has lived in one unit and rented the others. Three-flat falls within 765 ILCS 77 scope (1-4 unit residential).

Process: Document disclosure responses including known unit-level conditions and rental history → Federal lead paint → MRED MLS photo package

Compliance: Statutory disclosure documented for a multi-unit residential, lead paint complete

Naperville Single-Family in Suburban MRED Area

Scenario: 1995 single-family in Naperville. Newer construction so no federal lead paint requirement. Property includes finished basement with prior water intrusion.

Process: Document 765 ILCS 77 with water intrusion history → Radon awareness pamphlet acknowledgement → MRED photo package

Compliance: Statutory disclosure and radon overlay complete, MRED-ready

Frequently Asked Questions

What disclosure form is required for a Chicago listing?

The Illinois Residential Real Property Disclosure Act (765 ILCS 77) requires sellers of residential property containing 1 to 4 units to complete the Residential Real Property Disclosure Report. The form covers structural, mechanical, environmental, boundary, and legal items. It must be provided to the buyer before the contract is signed; if not provided, the buyer may terminate the contract before closing under 765 ILCS 77/35.

How does the Illinois Radon Awareness Act apply to Chicago listings?

The Illinois Radon Awareness Act requires sellers to provide buyers with the IEMA-published pamphlet 'Radon Testing Guidelines for Real Estate Transactions' and to disclose known radon test results. The requirement is separate from the main 765 ILCS 77 disclosure report. If the property has been tested, the results — including elevated readings or mitigation systems installed — must be disclosed.

Does federal lead-based paint disclosure apply in Chicago?

Yes — and to most of Chicago's housing stock. The federal EPA/HUD Lead-Based Paint Disclosure Rule (42 U.S.C. §4852d) applies to any sale or rental of housing built before 1978 in all 50 states. Chicago has substantial pre-1978 stock across nearly every neighborhood. Sellers must provide the EPA pamphlet, complete the disclosure form, and offer a 10-day inspection opportunity.

What MLS rules apply to Chicago photos and listing input?

Most Chicago-area listings are placed on MRED MLS (Midwest Real Estate Data), the dominant MLS for the Chicago metropolitan area and most of northern Illinois. MRED publishes member rules covering photo format, resolution, accuracy, and prohibited misrepresentations. MLS rules vary and can change; consult MRED member documentation for current specifications. BuildMyListing maintains MRED-aligned formatting profiles.

Does Chicago have any city-specific listing requirements beyond state law?

Chicago has additional administrative obligations primarily handled at closing: City of Chicago and Cook County transfer tax declarations, water department final-read certifications, and zoning compliance items in some cases. These are coordinated with title and the closing attorney and are independent of the 765 ILCS 77 disclosure form.

Does Illinois have an AI photo disclosure law for real estate listings?

California has a recent AI photo disclosure law that took effect in 2026 affecting California listings; Illinois does not currently have an equivalent statute. Illinois agents who work cross-border or who serve California-based clients may still want to apply AI alteration tracking voluntarily. BuildMyListing tracks alterations on every listing so documentation exists if it's ever needed.

What if a known defect is concealed on the 765 ILCS 77 disclosure report?

765 ILCS 77 provides for actual damages, court costs, and attorney fees if a seller knowingly violates the act. Common-law fraud claims may also be available where concealment was intentional. The Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation also has authority to discipline real estate licensees who knowingly assist in concealment. Documentation of disclosure is the most effective defense.

Are condos and townhomes covered by 765 ILCS 77?

Yes — condos and townhomes within the 1-to-4-unit residential scope are covered. The unit-level conditions are documented on the disclosure form. Building-level conditions are typically the responsibility of the association, but sellers should disclose known issues that materially affect their unit even when the cause is building-level.

How does Chicago compare to other major real estate markets for disclosure?

Illinois (765 ILCS 77) is in the middle of the disclosure spectrum: more prescriptive than Florida's caveat-emptor common-law approach, similar in scope to Texas (Property Code §5.008), and less layered than California's TDS plus AB 723 stack. The Illinois Radon Awareness Act is a distinctive overlay that several Midwestern states share.

Should I consult an attorney for Chicago listing disclosure questions?

Yes. Illinois transactions are commonly attorney-handled (the 'attorney approval' clause is a fixture), and questions about unusual conditions, the radon overlay, or post-closing claims warrant consultation with a licensed Illinois attorney. BuildMyListing's documentation supports the process but does not replace legal advice.

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Chicago Listing Requirements — Illinois Disclosure, Radon, Lead Paint, and MRED MLS