Chicago, IL Landscaping Rules: Native Plants (2026)
Key Facts
- Governing rule
- MCC § 10-32-055
- Administering agency
- Dept. of Streets and Sanitation
- Default weed cap (unregistered)
- 10 inches (§ 7-28-120)
- Parkway garden non-tree plant cap
- 10 inches tall
- Registration cost
- No cost to registrant
Summary
Register a native/pollinator garden with the city and it's exempt from the 10-inch weed height limit.
"managed native and pollinator garden" or "garden" means a planned, intentional, and maintained planting of native plants and plants that are pollinator-friendly. ... The managed native and pollinator garden must be maintained in accordance with rules established by the Department. Managed native and pollinator gardens in good standing on the registry shall not be subject to Section 7-28-120.
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's weed ordinance caps vegetation at 10 inches, but Municipal Code § 10-32-055 lets property owners register a "managed native and pollinator garden" with the Department of Streets and Sanitation. A registered garden in good standing is exempt from the height-based nuisance rule in § 7-28-120. Plants must be intentionally seeded or transplanted (not volunteer growth), owners must be able to identify what's planted, and nothing can encroach onto the sidewalk or beyond the property line. Parkway gardens need a separate permit and (per the code text on file) cap non-tree plants at 10 inches tall. The Department can pull a garden from the registry for noncompliance, and the section expressly does not override the Illinois Noxious Weed Law.
Violations & Fines
Unregistered tall vegetation over 10 inches: nuisance citation under § 7-28-120. Registered garden violating sidewalk/property-line rule: notice of violation, hearing, and a $100 fine if not fixed before the hearing date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does registering let me skip mowing entirely?
Can I put a native garden in the parkway strip?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Chicago
Compare Chicago to another location·View the Illinois landscaping rules overview
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Native Plants in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle native plants.