Berwyn, IL Landscaping Rules: Rainwater Harvesting (2026)

Section 1050.06 of the Berwyn Code of Ordinances, added by Ord. 09-29 on September 8, 2009 and amended by Ord. 15-40 on November 10, 2015, regulates rain barrels for dwellings. The code defines a rain barrel as an above-ground container designed to collect and store rooftop runoff of a dwelling for reuse for irrigation purposes solely, with a permitted size not to exceed 55 gallon capacity. A dwelling includes one-family, two-family and multi-family units and public buildings, but not house trailers, mobile homes, hotels, motels, boarding or lodging houses, tourist courts or tourist homes.

Division (B) treats the barrel as an alternative to the downspout requirements of § 1042.045, and limits reuse to agricultural or gardening purposes only. Division (C) allows barrels only within the yard of the dwelling, and the barrel must be placed on a pervious surface. The code defines the yard as the open space on the same zoning lot as the dwelling, unoccupied and unobstructed, extending along a lot line to the depth or width set by the yard regulations for the zoning district. Division (D) controls overflow: it must be discharged at grade within the yard of the dwelling, parks and public buildings can divert the overflow to landscape uses, and no overflow can be directed into the storm or combined sewer.

Division (E) requires every barrel to be covered at all times with a sealed screen or lid sufficient to prevent mosquitoes and leaves from entering. Rain barrel water is for the garden, not for drinking or indoor use, since the code limits it to irrigation.