Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Files Lawsuit Against Airbnb and Host Company

6/29/2026

Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson has filed a lawsuit against Airbnb and a prominent Chicago short-term rental operator, Slumber Stay LLC, accusing them of repeatedly violating city regulations. The city alleges that Slumber Stay failed to properly register its rental units and improperly used a nontransferable hotel license across multiple properties, continuing to operate even after paying fines and admitting past violations. The lawsuit also claims Airbnb enabled the illegal activity by processing bookings for unlicensed and unregistered listings. City officials argue these practices undermine housing affordability and weaken neighborhood stability by allowing large-scale, unregulated short-term rentals. Slumber Stay has reportedly been cited nearly 200 times in the past two years for ordinance violations, according to the complaint. The city’s updated rules require registration, licensing, and data sharing from both hosts and platforms.

Chicago Tribune (06/23/26) Jake Sheridan