Cook County adopts the Illinois Energy Conservation Code statewide minimum and supplements it with the Cook County Sustainable Building Ordinance for county-owned projects, while many suburbs require LEED, Energy Star, or stretch energy code compliance for private development.
Illinois preempts local energy codes through the Energy Efficient Building Act (20 ILCS 3125), mandating a uniform statewide energy code based on the IECC. Cook County's Sustainable Building Ordinance applies LEED Silver or equivalent to county-funded buildings over 10,000 square feet. Several suburban Cook municipalities (Evanston, Oak Park, Highland Park) have adopted climate action plans requiring private-sector benchmarking, electrification incentives, or green roofs. Chicago has its own Energy Transformation Code. New residential construction must meet IECC 2021 envelope, lighting, and HVAC requirements, verified through blower-door and duct-leakage testing.
Failing IECC envelope or duct-leakage testing prevents certificate of occupancy. Missing benchmarking deadlines in opt-in suburbs triggers escalating administrative fines under local sustainability ordinances.
Other ordinances people look up for this city. Green dot = verified primary-source excerpt.
Evanston, IL
Evanston City Code Title 9 prohibits dogs from barking, howling, or making noise continuously for 15 or more minutes, or intermittently for 30 or more minute...
Evanston, IL
Evanston restricts leaf blower use to the hours of 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM Monday through Saturday and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on Sundays. Both gas and electric leaf ...
Evanston, IL
Evanston regulates noise from commercial and industrial operations near residential areas. The city's noise ordinance sets limits on sound levels that may be...
Evanston, IL
Evanston permits construction activity from 7:00 AM to 9:00 PM Monday through Saturday. Construction is prohibited on Sundays and city-recognized holidays. S...
Evanston, IL
Evanston enforces extensive street parking regulations including residential permit zones, time limits of 2 to 4 hours in most areas, and seasonal snow emerg...
Evanston, IL
Evanston regulates driveway construction, width, materials, and use. Driveways require a permit and must be constructed of approved hard surfaces. Parking on...
Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how Evanston's green building code rules stack up against other locations.
Help us keep this page accurate. If you notice an error or outdated information, let us know.