Landscaping Rules in Cook County, IL (2026)

6 county-level rules, plus city-specific rules for 9 cities in Cook County, Illinois.

Verified from official government sources

Note: These county rules apply to unincorporated areas of Cook County. If you live within an incorporated city, that city's own rules apply: see the city list below.

Tree Trimming

Trimming or removing vegetation in a Cook County-controlled public way requires a Highway Department permit if the work could obstruct the roadway, sidewalk, or right-of-way.

Cook County Permit Required to Trim Street Trees

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 66-65

No person shall perform any work in the public way, including construction, reconstruction, upgrading, replacement, removal, relocation, modification or maintenance of any facilities, trimming or removal of any vegetation, or any excavation, in the public way, or place materials, equipment, devices, or structures in the public way (whether temporary or permanent) which, in the reasonable judgme...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Tree Removal & Heritage Trees

Cook County Chapter 126 requires tree removal permits for deciduous trees over 6 inches in diameter and evergreen trees 10+ feet tall on unimproved or partially improved land. A Tree Removal Application must be submitted to Building and Zoning.

Cook County Tree Removal Permits

Heavy Restrictions

Cook County Department of Building and Zoning - Tree Removal Application (Rev. 09/11/2020)

No tree as described below shall be removed from unimproved, partially improved or improved land without written approval from the Commissioner of the Department of Building and Zoning: A deciduous tree having a trunk size of six inches or greater in diameter, as measured six inches above the established grade. An evergreen tree measuring ten vertical feet or more in height. The Commissioner sh...

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Weed Ordinances

In unincorporated Cook County, letting grass or weeds grow past ten inches is a declared public nuisance the Health Department can cite and fine.

Cook County Grass And Weeds Height Limit

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 38-54(34)

To fail to maintain grass and weeds below ten inches in height, or to fail to maintain brush in a manner that prevents the harboring of vectors.

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Rainwater Harvesting

In unincorporated Cook County, any rainwater catchment system that feeds irrigation lines, toilets, or other plumbing must be approved by the Building Commissioner and follow ARCSA/ASPE/ANSI 63 collection standards.

Cook County Rainwater Catchment System Rules

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 118-57

The installation, construction, alteration, and repair of rainwater catchments systems intended to supply uses such as water closets, urinals, trap primers for floor drains and floor sinks, irrigation, industrial processes, water features, cooling tower makeup and other uses shall be approved by the Building Commissioner. Rainwater catchment systems for collecting precipitation from rooftops sh...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Native Plants

In unincorporated Cook County, required landscape plans for building permits, PUDs, and large parking lots must use plants from the County's approved native list and may not include specified invasive species.

Cook County Native Plant Landscaping Rule

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 126-64

(d) In addition to the requirements set forth in this section with respect to utilization and maintenance of plant material in landscape plans, plant material utilized to conform with the requirements contained in this section shall be selected from a list of approved native plants... Utilized native plants shall be maintained in proper condition and shall be replaced with similar native plants...

Full ordinance details →Official source ↗

Composting

In unincorporated Cook County, backyard compost piles and bins are capped at five feet tall with a combined 100-square-foot base, must stay out of front and side yards and off drainageways, and are enforced as a public-health nuisance violation by CCDPH.

Cook County Compost Bin Height Limits

Some Restrictions

Cook County Code § 38-54(22)-(25)

(22)To compost in a manner that is not permitted in this article.(23)To locate or place a compost pile or bin in either the front yard or the side yard of a lot.(24)To use residential type compost piles or bins that are more than five feet in height and/or have a combined ground base area of more than 100 square feet. Bins shall be structurally sound and kept in a state of good repair.(25)To pl...

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