Environmental Rules in Tinley Park, IL

If you live in Tinley Park or are thinking about moving there, environmental rules are one of those things you probably won't think about until they affect you directly. Tinley Park has 4 specific rules on the books covering different aspects of environmental rules, and some of them might surprise you.

Erosion Control

Village Code § 151.04 requires a site development permit before land in Tinley Park is cleared, graded, filled or otherwise disturbed once the work crosses set thresholds, such as more than 25 cubic yards of cut or fill or disturbance over 500 square feet. Violators face a misdemeanor fine of up to $500 per day under § 151.10(E).

Key details: Permit trigger: excavation/fill over 25 cubic yards. Permit trigger: disturbance over 500 sq ft. Reviewing officials: Village Engineer, Director of Public Works. Max fine: $500 per day, § 151.10(E). Permit expiration: 180 days to start, 1 year to finish.

Section 151.10(E) makes it a misdemeanor to grade, excavate, fill or alter land in violation of Chapter 151, with each day of a continuing violation treated as a separate offense punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day. A violator convicted under this section must also pay the cost of restoring the site, and the Director of Public Works may revoke or suspend a site development permit under § 151.10(B) for violating its terms.

Stormwater Management

Village Code § 151.05 requires every development site in Tinley Park to control peak storm water discharge and reduce runoff generation, using pervious areas and infiltration wherever practical. Industrial sites must file a federal NPDES notice of intent and carry out a storm water pollution prevention plan, and applicants must consult the village on additional design requirements before design begins.

Key details: Design requirement: control peak storm water discharge. Industrial sites: must file NPDES notice of intent. Sizing standard: MWRDGC peak-flow calculations. Waiver available: 5 listed conditions, § 151.08. Max fine: $500 per day, § 151.10(E).

Storm water management is enforced through the same Chapter 151 penalty structure that governs erosion control: § 151.10(E) makes a violation a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of up to $500 per day, with each day of noncompliance a separate offense, plus the cost of any required site restoration. The Director of Public Works can also revoke a site development permit for violating its storm water conditions.

Flood Elevation Requirements

Village Code § 152.03 sets the base flood elevation for Tinley Park from the FEMA flood insurance studies for Cook County and Will County, and § 152.02 defines the flood protection elevation as that base flood elevation plus one foot of freeboard. New and substantially improved residential buildings must have their lowest floor built up to that flood protection elevation under § 152.23(C).

Key details: Freeboard added: 1 foot above base flood elevation. FIS source, Cook County: FEMA study dated Nov. 1, 2019. FIS source, Will County: FEMA study dated Feb. 15, 2019. Lowest floor rule: elevated to FPE, § 152.23(C)(2). No-BFE fallback: applicant-funded engineering study.

Section 152.99 makes failure to obtain a floodplain development permit, or failure to meet its conditions, a violation: the Director of Community Development must notify the owner by certified mail, and if the owner does not correct the problem within ten days, the village can seek a circuit court injunction or a fine of $50 to $750 per offense, with each day of continued violation a separate offense, plus a recorded notice of violation on the property's title.

Flood Zones

Village Code § 152.20 allows development or filling in a mapped flood fringe only if it is protected against the base flood by proper elevation and meets compensatory storage requirements, and bars any use that reduces drainage capacity. No one may start floodplain development without a development permit from the Director of Community Development.

Key details: Flood fringe permit: required before any development. Floodway permit: needs IDNR/OWR delegation letter. Compensatory storage: 1.5x volume of lost storage. Fill removal option: FEMA Letter of Map Revision. Permitting official: Director of Community Development.

Section 152.99 makes failure to obtain the development permit required by §§ 152.20(A) and 152.21(A), or failure to meet its conditions, a chapter violation. The Director of Community Development must notify the owner by certified mail, and if the violation is not corrected within ten days the village may seek a circuit court injunction or a fine of $50 to $750 per offense, with each day a separate offense and a notice of violation recorded against the property's title.

This is not one of those rules that cities tend to ignore. Tinley Park actively enforces its flood zones requirements.

The Bottom Line

Tinley Park's environmental rules rules are a mixed bag. Some areas are strict, others are relaxed, and the details matter. The best approach is to check the specific rule that applies to your situation rather than assuming Tinley Park is broadly strict or permissive.

Keep in mind that Tinley Park can amend these rules at any council meeting. For the most current version of any rule mentioned here, check the specific ordinance page, where we track updates as they happen.