Parking Tax: Chicago vs Des Plaines
How do parking tax rules compare between Chicago, IL and Des Plaines, IL?
Des Plaines has fewer restrictions than Chicago.
Chicago, IL
Cook County
Chicago's Parking Tax under MCC 4-236 charges 22 percent on weekday daily commercial parking and 20 percent on weekend rates, reaching 23.25 percent for valet. Combined with the Cook County parking tax, downtown garage tax burdens are the highest in the United States.
View full Chicago rules →Des Plaines, IL
Cook County
Cook County's Parking Lot and Garage Operations Tax (Ord. 95-O-27, Ch. 74 Art. IX) charges $3 per day Monday-Friday and $2 per day Saturday-Sunday on commercial daily parking, plus tiered monthly rates. Operators collect from customers and remit to the county.
View full Des Plaines rules →Key Facts Comparison
| Fact | Chicago | Des Plaines |
|---|---|---|
| Authority | MCC 4-236 | Ord. 95-O-27, Ch. 74 Art. IX |
| Weekday rate | 22 percent of charge | - |
| Weekend rate | 20 percent of charge | - |
| Valet rate | 23.25 percent | - |
| National ranking | Highest in U.S. | - |
| Weekday daily | - | $3.00 per vehicle |
| Weekend daily | - | $2.00 per vehicle |
| Monthly weekday | - | $60 per space |
Highlighted rows indicate differences between cities.
Chicago FAQ
Why is downtown Chicago parking so expensive?
Chicago's 22 percent weekday parking tax stacks on top of Cook County's $3 daily tax. A $40 garage can carry over $12 in combined parking taxes, the highest burden of any U.S. city.
Are residential tenant parking spaces taxed?
No. Parking included with a residential lease, hospital patient parking, government employee parking, and church/school parking are exempt. The tax targets commercial transient parking sold to the public.
Des Plaines FAQ
Do residential building parking spaces owe the tax?
No. Tenant parking included in lease and resident-only spaces are exempt. The tax applies only to commercial daily, valet, hourly, or monthly transient parking sold to the public.
Who pays the parking tax in Chicago garages?
The customer pays both the Cook County tax and the additional Chicago 22% parking tax, collected by the operator and itemized on the receipt at exit.
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