Chicago, IL Landscaping Rules: Composting (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit-free size cap
- 10 cubic yards on-site
- With written approval
- up to 25 cubic yards
- Food scraps
- in-vessel, opening ≤ 1/4 inch
- Compost output
- must be used on-site
- Fine range
- $300-$600 per day
Summary
Backyard composting is legal permit-free up to 10 cubic yards if it stays odor- and pest-free.
(a) Nuisance. In no event shall any composting activity be conducted in a manner which creates an odor, litter, dust or noise nuisance, or attracts vectors or pests. ... Size. The composting operation contains no more than a total of 10 cubic yards of landscape waste, composting material and end product compost on-site at any one time, unless express written authorization has been issued by the commissioner of streets and sanitation allowing a greater volume, not to exceed 25 cubic yards.
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
Chicago Municipal Code § 7-28-715 lets residents run a "Tier I" garden composting operation without a Chapter 11-4 permit as long as it composts only landscape waste, stays under 10 cubic yards of material on-site at once (25 cubic yards with written sign-off from the Streets and Sanitation Commissioner), and all finished compost is used on-site rather than sold or hauled away. Every composting operation, regardless of tier, must avoid creating an odor, litter, dust, or noise nuisance and must control rats, insects, and other pests through measures like grinding materials, screening, or composting in a fully enclosed in-vessel bin. Mixing food scraps in requires a Tier II registration or in-vessel containment. HOAs and landlords also cannot ban tenants from collecting organic waste for drop-off composting or a private hauler under § 7-28-715(8).
Violations & Fines
$300-$600 per offense for an unpermitted composting operation that violates the standards; each day counts as a separate offense, and the Chief Sustainability Officer can order cessation or abatement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to compost in my Chicago backyard?
Can I compost food scraps at home?
Can my HOA ban composting?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
Compare Chicago to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Composting in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle composting.