Cook County Chapter 38 environmental control rules and Illinois Pollution Control Board Title 35 Part 901 set 75 dBA daytime construction equipment limits at residential property lines in unincorporated Cook. Most suburbs adopt parallel municipal noise ordinances with similar daytime caps.
Cook County Chapter 38 Article II environmental control provisions adopt the Illinois Pollution Control Board numeric noise standards in 35 Ill. Adm. Code Part 901, which set Class A residential receiving land daytime limits around 61 dBA octave-band averages with construction allowance up to roughly 75 dBA at the property line during permitted work hours. Construction is generally limited to 7 a.m.–7 p.m. weekdays in unincorporated Cook, though municipal ordinances frequently restrict to 8 a.m.–8 p.m. and prohibit Sunday work. The Cook County Department of Environmental Control investigates complaints in unincorporated areas, while Illinois EPA Bureau of Air enforces statewide Pollution Control Board limits when municipalities lack capacity.
Operating construction equipment outside permitted hours or above 75 dBA daytime / 55 dBA nighttime receiving-land limits violates Cook County Chapter 38 and IPCB Part 901. Penalties include daily fines up to $1,000 and stop-work orders.
See how Skokie's construction equipment noise rules stack up against other locations.
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