Oak Lawn does not recognize the Chicago 'dibs' tradition of saving shoveled parking spaces with chairs, cones, or other objects. Placing items in the public right-of-way to reserve a street space is a code violation and items may be removed by Public Works.
Unlike the City of Chicago, where 'dibs' is an informal but widely tolerated custom after snowstorms, Oak Lawn does not recognize or permit saving public street parking spaces with chairs, cones, buckets, or any other personal property. Village code prohibits placing obstructions or personal items in the public right-of-way, which includes the street, parkway, and sidewalks. Public Works crews may remove any obstructions during snow operations, and items placed in the street can be disposed of without notice. Additionally, since Oak Lawn enforces a village-wide 2:00 AM to 6:00 AM overnight parking ban, on-street parking is already restricted overnight regardless of whether a space was shoveled. Residents should use their own driveways and garages.
Items placed in the roadway to save spaces may be removed and discarded by Public Works without compensation. Obstructing the public right-of-way can result in fines of $50 to $100 per incident under property maintenance and streets chapters. Damaging a neighbor's vehicle or property in a dibs dispute can trigger civil liability and criminal charges.
Oak Lawn, IL
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Side-by-side rule comparisons with other cities in Cook County.
See how other cities in Cook County handle dibs & space saving.
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