Evanston, IL

Evanston requires a certificate of zoning compliance before any fence is erected, constructed, installed, or replaced: a rule that has applied citywide to every fence built since April…

Evanston limits residential and mixed-use fences to six named materials, wood, recycled-content wood-polymer lumber, wrought iron, masonry, restricted chain link, and ASTM-compliant…

Evanston caps most fences at 6 feet, drops that to 4 feet near the front facade, and allows 8 feet along a lot line bordering a nonresidential use, with mandatory low-height sight…

Cook County follows Illinois common law regarding shared boundary fences. Illinois does not have a mandatory fence-sharing statute. Both neighbors may build on their own side of the…

Evanston does not restrict dogs by breed: City Code Section 9-4-3-1 requires a license be issued to any dog owner "irrespective of the breed type," and Section 5-3-3-3(A)(13) makes any…

Declawing a cat anywhere in Evanston is illegal unless a licensed veterinarian certifies the procedure is medically necessary. City Code Section 9-4-22(B) bans onychectomy…

Evanston caps any premises at three dogs under City Code Section 9-4-3-2(A), and dogs under four months old don't count toward that limit. Kennels, pet shops and veterinary clinics…

Evanston has no citywide spay-or-neuter law, but City Code Section 9-4-17(H) makes spaying or neutering mandatory for any dog the Chief of Police designates a "dangerous dog." Once…

Evanston bans keeping any wild or vicious animal on residential premises outright under City Code Section 9-4-16, with no permit path for ordinary households. The only exemptions cover…

Evanston requires every animal except cats to be kept under restraint at all times under City Code Section 9-4-7(A). Dogs and cats can't enter food establishments even on a leash…

Pet stores in Evanston cannot sell, barter, or give away cats, dogs, or rabbits: they can only host adoption events for licensed rescues, with no ownership stake or fee for the space.

Evanston bans horses, swine, sheep, goats, cattle and poultry generally, but allows a licensed coop of 2 to 6 hens, with roosters barred outside school agricultural programs.

Animal hospitals need special use approval in Evanston's B1 business district, going through public hearing review rather than automatic permitting like retail or restaurant uses.

Evanston permits residential beekeeping under Title 9 (Animals) of the City Code with registration and setback requirements. Beekeepers must register hives with the city and maintain…

Killing, wounding, or trying to kill or wound any game or song bird within Evanston, or taking its eggs or young, is an offense under City Code Section 9-4-15. The violation carries…

Evanston bans loose feed scattered on the ground for wild or feral mammals and birds: Section 8-3-8-2 requires all feed sit inside an approved container or feeder. The chapter caps how…

Cook County runs an annual microchipping clinic for residents' companion animals at the county animal control facility, with the fee capped by Section 32-1; dogs found vicious or…

Evanston banned gasoline- and propane-powered leaf blowers outright after April 1, 2023, under City Code § 8-26-5; only electric blowers may run today, with no seasonal restriction…

Evanston limits building construction, demolition, and repair noise to 7am-9pm weekdays and 8am-5pm Saturdays, with an 80-decibel cap after hours absent a City permit.

Evanston bars audible radios, TVs, phonographs and similar devices from running loud enough to be "plainly audible at a distance of fifty (50) feet" between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m…

Evanston bars loudspeakers and amplifiers within 150 feet of residential property and restricts operating hours, and requires a City Manager permit for any outdoor amplified sound.

Evanston bans playing a car radio, tape deck or other audio device loud enough to be audible to a person of normal hearing 75 feet away on any city street, under City Code Section…

Evanston caps construction noise at 80 decibels measured from the property line during restricted evening and weekend hours, on top of the standard 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. building-work…

Evanston makes excessive, continuous or untimely barking a public nuisance under City Code Section 9-4-13, alongside chasing vehicles, molesting passersby and habitually attacking…

Aircraft noise in Illinois is governed exclusively by federal aviation law, leaving cities and the state without authority to regulate flight operations or in-flight sound.

Evanston requires a building permit before any in-ground or substantial above-ground residential pool goes in, issued by Building and Development Services under the adopted 2021…

Hot tubs and spas 24 inches or more in depth require a building permit and Cook County Health Department approval in unincorporated areas. Equipment must be at least 10 feet from…

Evanston does not impose a hotel-style occupancy tax on vacation rentals; instead, City Code Section 5-9-4(F) sets flat licensing fees. Every applicant pays a nonrefundable $250…

Evanston fines vacation rental violations on an escalating scale -- $200 for a first offense, $500 for a second, and $750 for a third or later offense -- with each day of violation…

Evanston does not limit vacation rentals to owner-occupied homes, but a license for a non-primary residence needs Planning and Development Committee and City Council review…

Operating a vacation rental in Evanston without a City license is illegal; non-owner-occupied units need Planning and Development Committee review, a 250-foot neighbor notice, and City…

Evanston does not set a minimum parking count for vacation rentals; it instead requires every listing to disclose whether parking is available and to flag any neighborhood parking…

Cook County's zoning ordinance splits short-term rentals into two tracks based on whether the host is present. A 'Supervised' rental, host on site during the stay, only needs a…

Cook County taxes short-term and vacation rentals of houses, condos and apartments at 1% of the rental charge under the Hotel Accommodations Tax Ordinance, and requires every owner or…

Unincorporated Cook County does not have a dedicated short-term rental licensing or insurance ordinance. Short-term rentals in unincorporated areas fall under the Residential Rental…

In unincorporated Cook County, a Non-Supervised short-term rental, one where the host isn't present, may host private events only under strict zoning conditions. Zoning Ordinance §…

In unincorporated Cook County, the zoning ordinance caps short-term rental guests at two per bedroom, limits Supervised rentals to 25 percent of one floor's area, and caps…

Evanston allows one accessory dwelling unit per zoning lot, attached, internal, or detached, capped at 1,000 square feet for new construction, with no minimum lot size or…

Evanston allows garden sheds in residential rear yards but bans housing birds, poultry (other than hens), or livestock in them, and caps detached accessory coverage at 40% of the rear…

Evanston has adopted Appendix AQ, Tiny Houses, of the 2021 International Residential Code by name under City Code Section 4-9-2, giving tiny houses their own construction standard.

Evanston lets homeowners convert an existing detached garage or accessory building into a coach-house ADU, and a converted structure that already fails a zoning standard is…

Evanston does not require the property owner to live on-site to have an accessory dwelling unit, but the ADU must stay under common ownership with the main house and house no more than…

Evanston lets the City Manager paint curbing yellow within a designated fire lane at his or her discretion, marking a no-parking zone in addition to required signage under the fire…

Evanston requires a City Manager permit to park any recreational vehicle on a street, caps each permit at seventy-two consecutive hours, limits vehicles to four permits per year, and…

Evanston bars parking a commercial vehicle, trailer, or bus overnight from 9 p.m. to 7 a.m. on any block that's more than half residential, unless the owner holds a commercial vehicle…

Evanston can designate streets as resident-only parking districts once traffic counts show the area is impacted by commuter parking; only vehicles with a valid Evanston vehicle license…

Evanston bans keeping any inoperative, unlicensed, or unregistered motor vehicle, boat, or trailer on private premises, and bars stripping or dismantling vehicles outdoors.

A snow route parking ban kicks in automatically after 2 inches of snow, and a citywide snow emergency after 4 inches triggers odd/even-side parking bans on non-route streets.

Evanston's Title 10, Chapter 6 lets the City Manager tow a vehicle immediately and without prior notice on nineteen listed grounds, from a snow route obstruction to a car sitting in a…

In Evanston's residential districts, open off-street parking must sit within 30 feet of the rear lot line or alley, no parking in the front yard, and driveway pavement must meet the…

Passenger curb loading zones cap stops at 3 minutes and freight zones at 30 minutes under Evanston's loading-zone rules: sign-designated by the Traffic Engineer.

New commercial and multifamily construction in Evanston must build electric vehicle charging capacity under City Code Section 4-2-2, which adopts and amends 2021 International Building…

Evanston bars stopping or parking on the roadway side of a curbed vehicle, in a bike lane, or within 8 feet of a driveway or 15 feet of a fire hydrant, with fines from $55 to $75.

Evanston restricts overnight street parking only in designated 'resident only parking districts'; District E-2, covering blocks near the Howard Street CTA line, bars non-permit…

Evanston property owners must cut weeds and turf grass before they exceed eight inches (8") under City Code § 8-5-2, and Section 8-5-3 extends that duty to the parkway abutting each…

Evanston limits lawn irrigation to odd-numbered addresses on odd calendar dates and even addresses on even dates from May 15 through September 15, with no watering citywide between 10…

When a protected tree is removed under a City permit, Evanston requires replacement at a rate up to 175% of the removed tree's diameter, or a mitigation fee paid in lieu of some or all…

Evanston lets residents compost via the City's food and yard waste program: Kraft paper bags up to 30 gallons or roll-out carts, with weight and branch-size limits set by City code.

Evanston makes overhanging tree branches a declared nuisance: property owners must keep boughs, limbs, and twigs trimmed so they clear at least 8 feet above a sidewalk or bike lane…

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…

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…

Evanston allows home occupations in any residential district, but the operator must live in the unit and minor home businesses can't exceed 15% or 400 square feet of floor area.

Evanston allows a child daycare home as a permitted accessory use in every residential district under City Code Section 6-4-2-1, meaning no special use permit or zoning variance is…

Evanston prohibits any signage, advertising, or display identifying a home occupation, plus separate business entrances: the property must look purely residential from the street.

Evanston restricts home occupation client and pupil visits to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., a citywide zoning standard enforced by the Zoning Administrator under Title 6.

Illinois runs its cottage food program out of 410 ILCS 625/4, and the current text sets no ceiling at all on what a cottage food operation may sell. Paragraph (1) of subsection (b) is…

Evanston allows in-ground, grade-level, and portable fire pits for wood fires if they sit at least 10 feet from a structure or combustibles, burn only seasoned wood, and stay attended…

Evanston requires working smoke alarms in every dwelling unit's sleeping areas, each bedroom, every story, and above interior stairways under the adopted Property Maintenance Code's…

Evanston bans possessing, making, storing, selling, and using fireworks or explosives anywhere in the city, unless the Fire Official approves a professional display permit at least 15…

Cook County bans open burning countywide (except Chicago) under Sec. 30-385, unless the burn fits a narrow exception, like on-site landscape waste, or the Department of Environment and…

Illinois regulates the storage, handling, and transport of liquefied petroleum gas statewide under the LPG Act, adopting NFPA 58 standards uniformly through the Office of the State…

Evanston building inspectors can enter and examine any building or premises to check code compliance, but only between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., never on Sunday, and only with a complaint, a…

Evanston requires a permit before any plumbing system installation, alteration, or replacement, and enforces the 2014 Illinois Plumbing Code adopted by City Code Section 4-5-1.

Evanston requires an automatic sprinkler system, designed to NFPA 13D, in every new one- and two-family dwelling, with a narrow exception for additions to existing unsprinklered homes.

Evanston has adopted the 2020 National Electrical Code by reference under City Code Section 4-6-1, with permit fees for electrical work set by City Council under Section 4-6-4.

Evanston requires deadbolt locks with at least a 1-inch throw and hardened steel components on entry doors to individual units in non-owner-occupied rental housing, under the Building…

Evanston requires a certificate of zoning compliance from the Zoning Administrator before any structure, including a deck or patio, is built, and zoning confines decks and patios to…

Every Evanston dwelling unit must have a working carbon monoxide alarm within 15 feet of each sleeping room. Owners install and supply units; tenants must test and maintain them.

Evanston requires a watertight scaffold or temporary roof over the sidewalk whenever construction rises above four stories near the street line, with design specs the Public Works…

New construction and additions of 10,000+ square feet to commercial, multifamily, or City-financed buildings in Evanston must earn a LEED Gold rating or equivalent under the city's…

Evanston housing providers must give every tenant the EPA lead-paint pamphlet and disclose any known lead hazards before renting; failing to fix that within seven days after notice…

Day care centers with a food service operation in unincorporated Cook County must hold an annual $75 food license and pay a separate $300 plan review fee from the Health Department…

In unincorporated Cook County, every elevator, dumbwaiter, and moving stairway must be inspected by the Building Department at least once every six months, with results posted on a…

Evanston caps exterior lighting at 0.5 foot-candle at the property line, but holiday lighting is exempted from that cap as long as it meets the adopted NFPA 70 National Electric Code…

Temporary window signs in Evanston can cover only 25% of the window area, rising to 35% if no other permanent signage is used, and must show a display date.

Political and campaign signs are exempt from Evanston's sign permit but capped at six square feet per occupancy and confined to private property under City Code Section 6-19-5(S)…

Cook County zoning caps how bright and how fast digital signs can change: Article 12.4 limits dynamic image display signs to 5,000 nits by day and 250 nits at night, bars illumination…

In unincorporated Cook County, a garage sale sign skips the permit but is capped at one per lot, 12 square feet, and three days out: no exceptions.

Evanston makes loud, excessive noise from loading or unloading vehicles, or from opening and breaking down boxes and crates, unlawful unless the person takes reasonable care to limit…

Evanston caps noise from mechanical equipment, including HVAC systems, at 55 dBA measured at the property line. Section 313.1, added to the 2021 International Mechanical Code by…

Bars, clubs, and other venues in Evanston cannot run loudspeakers or amplifiers loud enough to carry onto a public way within 150 feet of residential property.

Evanston requires any vehicle burglar alarm to shut itself off within four minutes of activation and prevents it from re-triggering without being manually reset, under City Code…

Evanston taxes hotel, motel, bed-and-breakfast, and vacation rental stays at 7.5% of gross rent, collected from guests and remitted monthly to the City Collector.

Illuminated signs in Evanston, including any billboard-type structure, cannot exceed 75 foot-candles of brightness, dropping to 50 in residential zoning districts and 1 on adjoining…

Evanston caps outdoor lighting at half a foot-candle measured at the property line. Section 402.4 of the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code, adopted and enforced as Evanston…

Evanston caps exterior lighting at one-half foot-candle measured at the property line, barring glare and light trespass onto neighboring properties and public ways.

Evanston protects trees once they hit a minimum trunk diameter tied to their species-quality group: any public tree at 2 inches DBH, and any private Group A through D tree at 6 inches…

Evanston caps what residents can plant in the street parkway: shrubs, perennials, ornamental grasses, and annuals can't mature taller than 3 feet, new parkway trees must sit 15 feet…

Evanston bans minors under 17 from public places and business premises during set curfew hours: 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. on Friday and Saturday…

Evanston parks close overnight, open only from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily, with playgrounds and tot lots limited to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.; being in a park outside those hours is unlawful.

Evanston pedestrians must cross at right angles or use a crosswalk under two rules in City Code Title 10, Chapter 7. Section 10-7-1 requires right-angle crossing absent a marked…

Evanston's Clean Air Act bans smoking "weed, plant or other organic substance" intended for smoking, covering cannabis, across a long list of public places under Section 8-18-5…

Evanston bars anyone without school business from loitering, wandering, or trespassing on public school grounds while school is in session, targeting non-students and non-employees…

Evanston's Clean Air Act bans smoking on beaches, at playgrounds and tot lots, and at City-licensed sidewalk cafes under City Code § 8-18-5, and Section 8-18-6 adds a twenty-five foot…

Evanston bars drinking or carrying an open container of alcohol in parks, streets, sidewalks, and other public property, with fines of $500 to $750 per offense.

Evanston bans panhandling or soliciting "in an aggressive manner" under City Code Section 9-5-25(C), defining eight specific aggressive acts: cornering someone at an ATM, repeating a…

Urinating or defecating on an Evanston street, sidewalk, park, or other public place -- or anywhere in public view -- is unlawful, enforced under the City's general penalty provision.

Two noise citations at the same Evanston address within twelve months lets the City declare the property a "nuisance premises," putting mandatory abatement duties on the owner…

Evanston City Code Section 7-10-3(C) bars skateboards from every tennis court and basketball court the City operates, alongside bicycles, motorized vehicles, rollerblades, skates and…

Evanston requires an approved erosion and sediment control plan before it issues a building permit for any site that disturbs more than 5,000 square feet, under City Code § 4-23-5. The…

New and substantially improved residential buildings in Evanston's mapped floodplain must have their lowest floor, including any basement, elevated to the Flood Protection Elevation…

Any new construction, substantial improvement, or watercourse alteration in Evanston's floodplain requires a floodplain development permit from the Floodplain Administrator before any…

Evanston requires on-site storm water detention and release-rate control for all new developments, mandatory once a project's footprint tops 5,000 square feet and construction costs…

In Evanston, a standing or parked motor vehicle weighing 8,000 pounds or more must not idle for more than five minutes in any 60-minute period on any public street, public place, or…

In unincorporated Cook County, docks, piers, wharves and boat rentals sited within a mapped floodway are not permitted uses: they require a special use permit under the county's Flood…

The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program regulates Lake Michigan shoreline development, applying uniform permit requirements along the entire Illinois…

Evanston bars selling tobacco or liquid nicotine products, including e-cigarettes, within 150 feet of any school and bans flavored vape and tobacco products outright, on top of the…

Tattoo studios in Evanston must hold a City-issued license, pass health inspections, and follow strict sanitation, sterilization, and record-keeping rules, and only licensed physicians…

Evanston caps pawnbroker licenses at two citywide, requires a $125 annual fee, a $2,000 surety bond, and Chief of Police oversight of applications, daily transaction records, and…

In unincorporated Cook County, adult entertainment cabarets, adult stores, adult booths, and adult theaters are zoned only into I-2, I-3, and I-4 Industrial Districts.

Cook County requires secondhand dealers buying used cell phones to check a stolen cell phone database first, log each device's make, model and serial number, and bars them from taking…

In unincorporated Cook County, massage parlors and massage schools are classified as adult uses under the zoning ordinance and are permitted only in I-2, I-3 and I-4 Industrial…

Evanston charges 60 cents per 24-hour period to park in any commercial lot or garage, with flat weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual rates for longer-term parkers.

Evanston taxes retailers and service businesses separately under its home-rule occupation tax: 1.25% on retail sales of tangible goods, 1.25% on service-related tangible property…

Evanston's R1 single-family district requires a 27-foot front yard, 15-foot street side yard, 5-foot interior side yard, and 30-foot rear yard for residential structures.

Evanston limits principal structures in the R1 single-family district to 35 feet or two and a half stories, whichever is less, measured from grade.

In Evanston's R1 single-family district, buildings can cover no more than 30 percent of the lot under City Code § 6-8-2-7, and total impervious surface, pavement, driveways, pools and…

Evanston grants zoning density, FAR, and parking bonuses in its B, C, M, and O districts to covered developments that include on-site affordable units under the city's Inclusionary…

Buildings along Benson, Church, Davis, Orrington and Sherman in downtown Evanston must rise straight up from the lot line to 24-42 feet, then step back 40 feet before continuing…

Evanston's condominium ordinance forces the developer to hand control to an elected board of unit owners within 30 days after 60% of units sell, and requires a majority of that board…

Evanston requires condo boards to keep meeting minutes for seven years, retain ballots and proxies for a year, and hand owners requested records within ten business days of a written…

The City Manager investigates complaints and can conciliate, secure a written assurance of discontinuance, or seek an injunction against declarants who violate Evanston's Residential…

Evanston's condominium ordinance makes the developer pay regular assessments on every unit it still owns, just like any other owner, following the payment rules set by the Illinois…

Unit owners and tenants can sue a declarant directly in court for violations of Evanston's Residential Condominium Ordinance, with triple punitive damages and attorney's fees available.

Illinois HOAs enforce their declaration, bylaws, and rules under the Common Interest Community Association Act. Rule violations are pursued through the 765 ILCS 160/1-30(g) fine power…

Illinois protects native plantings, not xeriscape and not artificial turf. The Homeowners' Native Landscaping Act, 765 ILCS 167, effective July 19, 2024, bars an association from…

Since January 1, 2024 the Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act has voided any covenant, deed restriction or governing-document provision that prohibits or unreasonably restricts…

An Illinois association board may not prohibit a unit owner from displaying the American flag or a military flag on the owner's limited common elements or on the immediately adjacent…

Illinois puts no dollar limit on association fines. Both statutes say only that the board may levy reasonable fines, and neither sets a maximum, a daily cap or a cure period. What…

Unpaid assessments on an Illinois condominium unit become a statutory lien under 765 ILCS 605/9(g)(1), and once the board of managers records notice of that lien it may foreclose it in…

Illinois runs the opposite way from states that protect owners who rent. There is no statutory cap on how much leasing an Illinois association may prohibit, no minimum lease term, no…

Every vacant lot in Evanston must be filled, graded, and seeded or sodded under City Code § 4-2-2, Evanston's local amendment to 2021 International Building Code § 3303.4. Before any…

Property owners, landlords, and occupants must clear a 36-inch path of snow and ice from abutting sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall, or face fines up to $450.

Evanston can declare a building a public nuisance and order it closed, secured, repaired, vacated, or demolished if it's structurally unsafe, fire-damaged, or unsanitary under the…

Owners must file a registration statement with the Health and Human Services Department before renting any dwelling unit for the first time as permanent housing, then renew it every…

Evanston's Residential Landlord and Tenant Ordinance requires every housing provider to keep rental premises in substantial compliance with City codes and to promptly make necessary…

Illinois requires a 5-day written notice for nonpayment of rent (735 ILCS 5/9-209), a 10-day notice to quit for lease violations (735 ILCS 5/9-210), and a 30-day termination notice for…

Under 735 ILCS 5/9-207, ending a month-to-month or other tenancy under one year requires 30 days' written notice; a week-to-week tenancy requires 7 days. The statute lets the landlord…

Illinois has no statewide rent control and no cap on rent increases. The Rent Control Preemption Act, 50 ILCS 825, bars every unit of local government, including home rule cities, from…

Illinois has no statewide statute setting a maximum rent increase or a dedicated advance-notice period for raising rent, and the Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825) bars local…

Illinois sets no statewide cap on residential security deposits. Under the Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710, a landlord of a building with 5 or more units who keeps any of a…

Adverse possession in Illinois generally requires 20 years of possession (735 ILCS 5/13-101). The period drops to 7 years when the occupant holds under claim and color of title 'made…

Cannabis dispensaries need special-use approval and are allowed only in Evanston's downtown, commercial, office, and RP districts: never in a residential district or inside any…

Cannabis dispensaries must sit at least 1,500 feet from any other dispensary and 500 feet from an existing school, measured lot line to lot line under Evanston's zoning code.

Illinois law permits home cannabis cultivation only by registered medical patients, capped at five plants per household, and preempts local bans or expansions of recreational home grow.

Evanston requires a certificate of zoning compliance before any temporary use, including a garage or yard sale, can legally be established, with the Zoning Administrator deciding each…

Evanston treats solar collectors as a permitted accessory use in every zoning district, no special-use hearing required, but panels must meet specific setback, height, and footprint…

Illinois voids any association bylaw, board action, deed restriction or covenant that prohibits or has the effect of prohibiting a solar energy system, under 765 ILCS 165/15 and 765…

Outdoor heaters at year-round sidewalk cafes must sit at least three feet from anything combustible, carry a safety listing, and pass Fire Department review before Public Works signs…

Evanston lets restaurants build a streatery, an on-street dining platform over parking spaces, under strict size, barrier, and clearance rules approved by the Public Works Director and…

Evanston requires an annual City permit for any sidewalk cafe or streatery, running April through November, with tighter Director or City Council review near residential zones or for…

Evanston lets residents close a street for a one-day block party, but only May 1 through September 30, with a permit filed at least ten business days ahead through the 311 System.

Evanston requires a permit from the Parks/Forestry and Recreation Department for any park gathering over 30 people, plus performances, amplified sound, or structures, with fees…

Any parade or procession using Evanston streets, other than a funeral procession, needs a City Manager permit filed 10 to 365 days ahead; sidewalk-only events are exempt.

Evanston bans depositing litter or waste on any private or public property in the city, including vacant lots and alleys, under the littering provisions of Title 8, Chapter 3.

Evanston does not mandate food-scrap or yard-waste separation. Code § 8-4-5 only 'encourages' property owners to use the food and yard waste cart or the year-round food-scrap program.

Evanston's Public Works Department collects municipal solid waste once a week from single-family homes and multi-family buildings of five units or fewer, and twice a week from…

Evanston sets exact curb hours for trash carts, out no earlier than 6 p.m. the night before pickup, off the curb by 7 p.m. on collection day, plus alley collection-site rules.

Evanston requires recyclables, paper, cartons, glass, aluminum, steel, and plastics coded 1-5 and 7, to be cleaned and set out separately from trash; mixing in non-recyclables can…

Evanston residents may set out yard waste in City roll-out carts, 30-gallon Kraft paper bags, or tied bundles: branches must be under 4 inches thick, bundles no more than 4 feet long…

Evanston requires business and multifamily dumpsters to display the property's name and address, locks them downtown, and sets a minimum weekly capacity for buildings over four units.

Cook County requires demolition permit holders countywide, outside Chicago, to divert at least 70% of debris by weight from landfills through recycling or reuse, filing a diversion…

Trash and recycling collection in unincorporated Cook County is provided by private haulers contracted by residents or managed by local townships. The Cook County Solid Waste and…

Bulk item disposal in unincorporated Cook County is handled through private waste haulers. Large items may require special pickup arrangements. Illegal dumping is prosecuted under the…

Operating a mobile food vehicle anywhere in Evanston without a City license is unlawful under City Code Section 8-23-2. Vendors pay a $500 annual fee, $250 if the license is issued…

Selling food on Evanston sidewalks by pack, pushcart or wagon requires a peddler's license from the City Collector under City Code Section 3-11-2, with fees set by Section 3-11-3…

City Code Section 8-23-3 tells Evanston mobile food vendors exactly where they can and can't park. The Director of the Public Works Agency must approve every location, and vending is…

Evanston treats low-speed electric bicycles as bicycles, splitting them into Class 1, 2, and 3 by speed and throttle, and restricts Class 3 riders by age and bans them from bike lanes…

Evanston bans stopping, standing, or parking a vehicle that blocks all or part of a marked bicycle lane, backed by a mandatory $75 fine and the City's authority to tow blocking…

Cook County runs its own automated red light camera program on county-maintained highways under Code §§ 82-206–82-209, fining registered owners $100 per violation, with municipalities…

Cook County bans operating a motor-driven scooter on any public street, sidewalk, parking lot, bike path, or park in unincorporated areas and in municipalities that haven't adopted…

Illinois runs two different regimes and the answer depends entirely on which vehicle you own. A golf cart is a non-highway vehicle under 625 ILCS 5/11-1426.1, and driving one on any…

Evanston property owners must keep structures and yards free of rodent harborage, exterminate infestations with integrated pest management, and store materials 12 inches off the ground.

In unincorporated Cook County, tossing used needles, syringes, or lancets loose is a declared public nuisance. CCDPH requires sharps go into a hard plastic or metal container with a…

County landlords must eliminate bed bug infestations using a licensed pest control professional and keep three years of treatment records.

Evanston requires a Public Works permit before anyone occupies the public right-of-way for construction, remodeling, or building maintenance, backed by a bond and at least $1,000,000…

Evanston keeps public sidewalks and rights-of-way free of encumbrances, obstructions, and encroachments, with fines escalating from $100 to $500 for repeat violations within a year.

Evanston property owners and occupants must raise, lower, or repair the sidewalk in front of their lot once the Director of Public Works orders it, on the City's timeline.

Evanston's code official can enter and inspect a rental unit once there is reasonable cause, typically a tenant's report, to believe a Property Maintenance Code violation exists there.

Every dwelling unit rented in Evanston for the first time must be registered with the Community Development Department and pass a City inspection against the International Property…

Evanston requires anyone peddling goods door-to-door or on public streets to obtain a City Collector license, register with references and photos, and carry a photo ID card at all…

Evanston bars barbecue grills from stairs and porches that serve as building exits, but allows them on balconies or at ground level if a fire extinguisher stays close by.

Cook County's open burning ban exempts backyard smokers, grills, and campfires used for legitimate recreational or cooking purposes, so you don't need a permit: as long as the smoke…

Anyone filming a media broadcast, motion picture or still commercial photo shoot in an Evanston park must first get a permit from the Director of Parks/Forestry and Recreation under…

Evanston's tree code singles out exotic and invasive species for lighter treatment: a Group D or otherwise invasive tree over 6 inches DBH on private property can be removed with just…

In unincorporated Cook County, landscape plans required for building permits, PUDs, and parking lots over 20 spaces may not use tree-of-heaven (Ailanthus altissima): it's flagged for…

Evanston's Welcoming City Ordinance bars city agencies and police from asking about immigration status, sharing it with ICE, or holding people on civil detainers alone, except for…

Cook County bars flying any drone or UAS on land, buildings, or facilities the County owns or leases, including County parks, unless the managing agency expressly authorizes it, backed…

Drone flight in controlled airspace surrounding Chicago O'Hare (KORD) and Midway (KMDW) requires FAA Low Altitude Authorization and Notification Capability (LAANC) clearance through…

Cook County bars flying any unmanned aerial system on land, buildings or facilities the County owns or leases unless the agency that runs the site authorizes it first. Violators face a…

Cook County has no separate agricultural zoning district, but its R-1 Single-Family Residence District, the county's largest-lot residential category, is expressly designed, per Zoning…

The Farm Nuisance Suit Act shields established Illinois farms from nuisance lawsuits when the operation predates surrounding non-agricultural land uses by at least one year.

Cook County requires a Building Commissioner permit before installing reclaimed (recycled) water, gray water, or on-site treated nonpotable water systems for buildings in…

Cook County's Class L tax incentive rewards owners of landmark or contributing buildings with a reduced property assessment after substantial rehabilitation, once the property's…

Residents in unincorporated Cook County can report building, zoning, and property violations to the Cook County Department of Building and Zoning. Reports can be filed online through…

Cook County Building and Zoning investigates complaints on a priority basis. Emergency hazards (unsafe structures, exposed wiring) receive expedited response. Routine violations are…

The most common code violations in unincorporated Cook County include construction without permits, illegal occupancy, zoning violations (commercial use in residential areas), unsafe…

The Paid Leave for All Workers Act guarantees up to 40 hours of paid leave annually for nearly every Illinois employee, with limited carve-outs for jurisdictions with existing…

Illinois issues shall-issue concealed carry licenses through the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, with statewide preemption of local handgun carry rules.

Illinois preempts most local firearm regulation under the FOID Card Act and Wildlife Code, leaving home rule cities limited authority over assault weapons and certain narrow areas.

Illinois bans open carry of firearms in public under the Criminal Code, allowing concealed carry only by Firearm Concealed Carry Act licensees with limited exceptions.

Illinois law sets uniform rules for transporting firearms in vehicles under the FOID Card Act and Firearm Concealed Carry Act, preempting local handgun transport ordinances.

Illinois doesn't let cities zone in casinos on their own: the Illinois Gambling Act (230 ILCS 10/7) hands out a fixed number of state owners licenses, each tied by statute to one named…

Illinois nonprofits need a Department of Revenue license before running charitable games, capped at 4 days a year, with single bets at house-banked games limited to $20 and cash…

Illinois law makes it a crime to play any game of chance or skill for money unless the activity fits one of fifteen narrow exemptions listed in 720 ILCS 5/28-1(b): the state lottery…

Illinois legalized sports betting under the Sports Wagering Act, but only through an operator holding a Board-issued master sports wagering license. The Illinois Gaming Board licenses…

Illinois holds roadside safety checks, but the General Assembly never wrote a statute authorising or regulating them. The Illinois Vehicle Code mentions checkpoints exactly once, in a…

Illinois writes the right to film police directly into its eavesdropping statute. 720 ILCS 5/14-2(e) says nothing in the eavesdropping article prohibits any individual who is not a law…

Illinois gives officers a demand power without giving them a penalty to back it. Under 725 ILCS 5/107-14(a) a peace officer who has identified himself as such may stop a person in a…

Illinois has no statute that requires an officer to warn you that you may refuse a vehicle search, but it does require the officer to write the request down. 625 ILCS 5/11-212 makes…

Illinois prohibits sale of any tobacco, alternative nicotine, and electronic cigarette product to persons under 21 under the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Act.

Illinois runs a closed list for vehicle lighting. Under 625 ILCS 5/12-212(c), all lighting on a vehicle other than what the Vehicle Code expressly authorises is prohibited, so the…

Illinois never lists permitted windshield zones for a dash cam the way Florida and Texas do. It applies a materiality test instead: 625 ILCS 5/12-503(c-5) prohibits driving with…

Lane splitting is not lawful in Illinois. The Vehicle Code never uses the phrase, but 625 ILCS 5/11-703(c) makes the maneuver itself unlawful: a two-wheeled vehicle passing on the left…

Illinois does not ask whether a plate cover obscures the plate. 625 ILCS 5/3-413(g) makes it unlawful to operate any motor vehicle equipped with a registration plate cover, full stop…

A radar detector is legal in an ordinary Illinois passenger car. The only detector ban in the Illinois Vehicle Code, 625 ILCS 5/12-714, reaches a driver who operates or is in actual…

Illinois gets lake-effect snow and still bans studded tires outright. Section 12-401 of the Illinois Vehicle Code forbids operating a vehicle on an improved highway if any road wheel…

Illinois bans tinted film on the front windshield except a nonreflective strip running no more than 6 inches down from the top, and bars any window treatment on the windows immediately…