Chicago, IL Environmental Rules: Erosion Control (2026)
Key Facts
- Trigger threshold
- 15,000+ sq ft disturbed or 7,500+ sq ft paved
- Filed with
- Sewer permit review under Ch. 11-16
- Enforced by
- Building & water management commissioners
- Standard penalty
- $100–$1,000 per violation per day
- No-plan penalty
- $5,000–$10,000 civil penalty
Summary
Chicago requires a City-approved Stormwater Management Plan with sediment and erosion control measures for any construction disturbing 15,000+ square feet or creating 7,500+ square feet of new pavement.
Except as provided in subsection (2), every Regulated Development shall at all times have in place a Plan approved by the City. ... the Plan shall include the following: ... (b) Provisions for sediment and erosion control. (c) Provisions for operations and maintenance.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: 2026 S-74: Current through Council Journal of June 17, 2026).
Full Breakdown
Any Regulated Development in Chicago, construction disturbing 15,000 or more square feet, creating 7,500 or more square feet of new impervious surface, or discharging stormwater into city waters, must have a Stormwater Management Plan approved by the building commissioner before work begins. The plan, filed with the sewer permit application under Chapter 11-16, must include provisions for sediment and erosion control alongside rate and volume control for runoff. Single-family and two-family residential subdivisions and routine maintenance work are exempt. The building commissioner and commissioner of water management jointly enforce the chapter and can order site inspections at any point during construction.
Violations & Fines
Building without an approved plan draws a $5,000–$10,000 civil penalty; other chapter violations run $100–$1,000 per day, plus attorneys' fees and triple remediation costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a single-family home addition need an erosion control plan?
Who reviews Chicago's erosion control plans?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
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Erosion Control in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle erosion control.