New Illinois Laws for 2026: What Home Buyers Should Know Before Making a Move
If you’re thinking about buying a home in Illinois in 2026, there’s more to consider than interest rates and home prices. A wave of new state laws is taking effect, and some of them directly impact buyers, homeowners, and everyday living.
Instead of skimming headlines, let’s break this down in plain language so you know what actually matters before you buy.
Grocery Taxes Will Depend on Where You Buy
Illinois is officially ending the 1 percent statewide grocery tax on January 1. Sounds great, right?
Here’s the reality buyers need to know.
More than 650 municipalities have already passed local grocery taxes to replace it. That means whether you pay grocery tax will now depend on the city or town you buy in.
For buyers comparing neighborhoods, this is one more cost-of-living detail to factor in, especially if you’re deciding between city and suburban locations.
Stronger Protection If You Buy a Vacant or Investment Property
A new law makes it easier for police to remove squatters who are illegally occupying a home. Buyers no longer have to worry about being stuck in months-long eviction processes just to gain access to a property they own.
This is especially relevant if you’re buying a vacant home, a renovation project, or a future rental property.
Drinking Water Protections Matter Long Term
Illinois is banning underground carbon sequestration in areas tied to sole-source aquifers, including the Mahomet Aquifer.
For buyers, this is about long-term environmental safety and water quality. Clean, protected water sources help preserve property values and quality of life, especially in areas where alternative water sources don’t exist.
Buying Near Hotels? Expect Greener Practices
By 2026, all Illinois hotels must phase out small single-use plastic toiletries unless requested by guests.
While this won’t change your home purchase directly, it reflects a broader shift toward sustainability that buyers increasingly care about when choosing communities, especially in urban areas like Chicago.
Safer Communities for First Responders
Illinois is taking steps to remove PFAS chemicals from firefighter gear by 2027. These chemicals have been linked to cancer and long-term health risks.
For buyers, this is part of a bigger picture around public safety, community health, and long-term municipal responsibility.
Changes That Support Families and Working Parents
Several new laws directly support families, which matters if you’re buying with long-term plans in mind.
Paid time for nursing mothers to pump breast milk
Job-protected unpaid leave for parents with newborns in NICU care
Paid leave expansion for organ donors
Mental health–related job separations now eligible for unemployment benefits
These policies make Illinois more family-friendly and can influence where buyers choose to settle.
More Transparency Around AI in Hiring
Illinois employers must now disclose when AI is used in hiring or promotions, and the technology cannot result in discrimination.
For buyers relocating for work, this adds transparency and protection in the job market, which can factor into relocation decisions.
Safer Public Spaces
Libraries will now be required to carry naloxone and train staff to respond to overdoses. Police training related to sexual assault investigations is also being updated.
For buyers evaluating neighborhoods, these changes reflect broader investments in public health and safety.
Why This Matters When You’re Buying
Buying a home isn’t just about the house. It’s about the state, the city, the neighborhood, and how all of it supports the life you want to build.
New laws affect:
Cost of living
Property rights
Community safety
Family protections
Long-term value
National headlines won’t explain how these changes impact specific Chicago neighborhoods or the type of home you’re buying. That’s where local guidance matters.
If you’re planning to buy in Chicago or the surrounding areas in 2026 and want help understanding how these changes factor into your decision, I’m always here.
Your Chicago bestie for smart moves, not just home tours.
