Cicero, IL Environmental Rules: Flood Zones (2026)

Chapter 44, Article II governs floodplain development townwide. Section 44-34 requires a permit from the town engineer before anyone erects, constructs, enlarges, alters, repairs, improves, moves or demolishes a building or structure, and separately before any manmade change to land, including fences, mining, dredging, filling, grading, paving, excavation or drilling, and before placing any manufactured home. Each building, structure or mobile home needs its own permit application, reviewed under Section 44-35. The town engineer, under Sections 44-36 and 44-37, examines whether a proposed site is reasonably safe from flooding and, if it sits in a floodprone area, requires new construction to be anchored against flotation and lateral movement, built with flood-resistant materials, and designed so mechanical and electrical equipment stays out of floodwater.

Subdivision proposals get the same scrutiny under Section 44-38, and new water and sewer systems in floodprone areas must be designed to keep floodwater out under Sections 44-39 and 44-40. Section 44-41 blocks approval of development in a special flood hazard area outside the current corporate limits unless it complies with the town's floodplain ordinance and federal standards. The town formally adopted FEMA's Flood Insurance Rate Maps and Flood Insurance Study for Panel J, Cook County, effective August 19, 2008, under Section 44-42, which is what defines the mapped special flood hazard areas the permit requirement applies to.