Pop. 110,417 · Peoria County
Peoria's pool safety framework is the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) Section 303 as adopted in Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances. IPMC 303.1 requires every private pool, hot tub, and spa to be kept clean, sanitary, and in good repair; IPMC 303.2 requires the 60-inch barrier with self-closing self-latching gates. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (15 USC 8001) sets federal anti-entrapment drain requirements.
Peoria adopts IPMC Section 303.2 (Enclosures) through Chapter 5 of the Code of Ordinances. Private pools more than 24 inches deep must be completely surrounded by a barrier at least 60 inches high measured from the side away from the pool, with self-closing self-latching gates, latch release at least 54 inches above the bottom, and a maximum 2-inch ground-to-bottom gap. Openings cannot allow a 4-inch sphere to pass through.
Peoria regulates recreational vehicle and boat/trailer parking under Peoria Code Chapter 28 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles), Article VII (Stopping, Standing and Parking) for street parking, and under Peoria Code Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) for storage on private residential property. Long-term street parking of RVs, boats, and trailers in residential zones is restricted, and stored RVs/boats on private property must generally be located behind the front building line and on an improved (paved or gravel) surface, with specific limits varying by zoning district.
Peoria street parking is governed by Peoria Code Chapter 28 (Traffic and Motor Vehicles), Article VII (Stopping, Standing and Parking). Downtown Peoria has metered parking enforced 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday by the Peoria Police Department's Parking Enforcement unit, with rates and time limits posted on each meter or pay station. Bradley University-area residential blocks operate under a residential permit-parking program where non-permitted vehicles are limited to two hours during posted hours. The City also restricts parking near hydrants (15 feet), driveways, intersections (20 feet), and crosswalks under the Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-1303.
Peoria Code Section 28-251 prohibits standing or parking any truck, tractor, semitrailer, trailer, or bus on a residential street for longer than necessary for expeditious loading or unloading. The exception covers pickup trucks and vans not exceeding 235 inches overall length and 80 inches body width (excluding mirrors). Larger commercial vehicles — semi-truck tractors, box trucks, work trailers — cannot be stored overnight on residential streets, and similar limits apply to commercial vehicle storage on residential private property under the Peoria Zoning Ordinance (Appendix B).
Peoria regulates residential driveways under two parallel sets of rules: Peoria Code Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance), Article 15 (Off-Street Parking) sets width, location, and surface requirements; and Peoria Code Chapter 27 (Streets, Sidewalks and Public Places) requires a Public Works driveway-approach permit for any new curb cut or apron tying into a public street. Residential driveways must be hard-surfaced (concrete, asphalt, brick pavers, or similar), and parking on grass or unimproved surfaces is prohibited in most residential districts.
Peoria Code Section 28-349 declares any motor vehicle or part that is inoperable, damaged, deteriorated, or in need of repair for 30 days or more, located on private property outside an enclosed structure on all sides, and constituting a danger or blight, to be a public nuisance. Code Enforcement issues a notice and gives the owner a cure period (typically 7-10 days) before the City may abate by towing the vehicle and billing the cost back. On public streets, Peoria follows the Illinois Vehicle Code (625 ILCS 5/4-201 et seq.) for abandoned vehicles.
Peoria has no blanket city-wide overnight parking ban on residential streets, but Peoria Code Section 28-386 (Division 6 — Snow Emergency Regulations) automatically prohibits parking on designated snow emergency routes whenever snow or ice accumulates to 2 inches and at least 1 additional inch is forecast. The ban remains in effect for 48 hours unless extended by the City Manager. Posted snow emergency route signs are placed along major arterials and identified collector streets, and violators are subject to ticketing and tow.
Residential EV charger installation in Peoria is governed by the Illinois Electric Vehicle Charging Act (Public Act 102-0662, effective Jan. 1, 2024), which gives tenants and condo/HOA owners in buildings constructed after Jan. 1, 2024 a right to install Level 2 EV charging on or near their assigned parking spaces. Single-family home installations require an electrical permit through the Peoria Inspections Division under Peoria Code Chapter 5, Article III (2018 IRC + 2017 NEC). Rights for owners in pre-2024 associations are more limited under the Act.
Peoria Code Chapter 5 (Animals), specifically Sec. 4-22(a)(3), declares any animal a 'nuisance animal' if it 'causes a disturbance by excessive barking, caterwauling or other noisemaking,' and prohibits any person from owning, possessing, or harboring such an animal in the city. The rule applies 24 hours a day; nighttime barking is also reached by Sec. 15-62's quiet-hours rule. Complaints are handled by Peoria County Animal Protection Services (PCAPS) under a longstanding intergovernmental agreement with the City of Peoria.
Peoria Code of Ordinances Sec. 15-62 (Radios, phonographs, etc.) is the city's primary nighttime quiet-hours rule. It prohibits operating any radio receiving set, musical instrument, phonograph, loudspeaker, compact disc player, DVD player, or other sound-producing device in a manner that unreasonably disturbs persons of ordinary sensibilities, particularly between 11:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in the Central Business District (defined in Article 8 of the Zoning Code) and between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. in the rest of the city. A minimum fine of $500.00 applies to violations occurring outside the Central Business District between 12:00 midnight and 5:00 a.m.
Peoria has no leaf-blower-specific ordinance. Gas and electric leaf blowers fall under Code Sec. 15-69 (Blowers, power fans, electric motors, or internal combustion engines), which prohibits operation between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when audible at 50 feet or more (prima facie evidence of violation). Daytime use is permitted, subject to the Sec. 15-62 reasonable-person disturbance standard. Peoria does not ban gas blowers (in contrast to several California and Washington municipalities).
General Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport (PIA), operated by the Metropolitan Airport Authority of Peoria, is the primary regional airport just west of the city. Aircraft noise is federally preempted by the Federal Aviation Act and the Airline Deregulation Act; FAA Part 150 Noise Compatibility Program (NCP) governs airport-level mitigation. PIA's most recent FAA-approved NCP (2009) includes acoustical treatment of homes within the 65 DNL contour east of the airport along Airport Road (~22 homes) and preferential Runway 13/31 use at 70/30. Peoria Code Sec. 15-64 separately prohibits amplified sound from any aircraft.
Peoria does not codify a separate construction-only time window; instead, Code Sec. 15-69 (Blowers, power fans, electric motors, or internal combustion engines) is the operative restriction on noise-creating construction and equipment use. It prohibits operation between 10:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. when the device is plainly audible at 50 feet or more (this audibility creates prima facie evidence of a violation). Sec. 15-69 also expressly permits sweeping and snow removal of parking lots in the central business district, commercial districts, office districts, and industrial districts at all hours.
Peoria regulates amplified music through three coordinated Chapter 15 Article III sections: Sec. 15-61 (Musical instruments generally — no street performance for pay between 9:00 p.m. and 9:00 a.m. unless permitted), Sec. 15-62 (Radios, phonographs and similar devices — quiet hours and $500 minimum fine for late-night residential violations), and Sec. 15-63 (Sound advertising devices — outright prohibition on amplified noise for commercial advertising or to attract public attention to a building, with permitted-event exemption). Sec. 15-75 separately prohibits any sound amplification on the 'public way' audible at 75 feet or more.
Peoria has one of the most detailed municipal vehicle-noise schedules in central Illinois. Code Sec. 15-68 (Motor vehicle mufflers) requires a working muffler at all times and sets maximum sound levels on a sliding distance/decibel chart: 95.5 dBA at 15 feet, 91 dBA at 25 feet, 85 dBA at 50 feet. Sec. 15-67 prohibits unmuffled engine exhaust. Sec. 15-66 prohibits unnecessary or unreasonable horn use, and prohibits engine-exhaust horns. Sec. 15-75 prohibits any sound amplification from a motor vehicle on the public way audible at 75 feet, with vehicle seizure under Sec. 15-77 for repeat offenders.
Illinois sets uniform statewide decibel limits for stationary industrial and commercial noise sources through Pollution Control Board rules under the Environmental Protection Act.
Peoria imposes an 8% Municipal Hotel/Motel/Room Rental Tax on every short-term rental unit for each 24-hour period or partial day. Rentals of 30 or more consecutive days are exempt. Operators file returns through the City's HostCompliance Short-Term Rental License & Tax Portal monthly, quarterly, or annually. Illinois state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax under 35 ILCS 145/ also applies and is administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Peoria has no voluntary collection agreements with Airbnb or Vrbo, so operators remit directly.
Peoria requires every operator who rents all or part of a property for 29 days or fewer to obtain a Short-Term Rental License at $75 per unit annually. Applications and renewals are submitted through the City's HostCompliance Short-Term Rental License & Tax Portal. Renewals are due January 31 each year. A Special Use Permit may be required from Community Development before licensing, depending on the property's zoning under the Unified Development Code (Appendix A).
Peoria short-term rentals must comply with the City's general noise provisions in the Code of Ordinances. Radios, musical instruments, phonographs, loudspeakers, and other sound-producing devices may not unreasonably disturb others. Heightened quiet hours apply 11:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. in the Central Business District and 12:00 midnight to 5:00 a.m. elsewhere. STR licenses may be revoked for repeated verified noise violations at the property.
Peoria's short-term rental ordinance does not set a numerical cap on guests per unit. Instead, occupancy is governed by the property's permitted bedroom count under the Peoria Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 5, Article VI) and by any conditions attached to a Special Use Permit. Egress, smoke-alarm, and minimum sleeping-area requirements from the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) as adopted by Peoria control how many people may safely sleep in each room.
Peoria does not impose a short-term-rental-specific parking ratio. Instead, STRs must satisfy the off-street parking standards that apply to the property's underlying use under the Peoria Unified Development Code (Code of Ordinances Appendix A), generally treated as a dwelling unit with required on-site spaces. Guests must comply with citywide on-street parking rules including the 2 a.m. to 6 a.m. overnight parking restrictions and street-sweeping schedules.
Peoria's Short-Term Rental ordinance does not require operators to carry a specific minimum amount of liability insurance to obtain the $75 annual license. However, standard homeowners insurance policies typically exclude commercial short-term rental activity, so operators commonly carry a dedicated STR or short-term rental endorsement with at least $1,000,000 in liability coverage. Airbnb's Host Liability Insurance and AirCover provide secondary coverage but are not a substitute for a primary STR policy.
Open burning of rubbish, garbage, yard waste, leaves, and construction debris is prohibited in Peoria under Peoria Code Chapter 11, Article V (Burning Regulations) and the Illinois Environmental Protection Act (415 ILCS 5/9). Only recreational fires, permitted bonfires (sponsored events only), licensed prescribed burns, and construction-site land-clearing burns with an air curtain destructor are allowed, each with specific Peoria Fire Department permit requirements ranging from $10 to $200.
Residential propane tank installation and storage in Peoria is governed by the Illinois Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code at 41 Illinois Administrative Code Part 200, which adopts NFPA 58 (Liquefied Petroleum Gas Code) with state amendments enforced by the Office of the Illinois State Fire Marshal (OSFM). Peoria Code Chapter 11, Article III (Fire Prevention Codes) and Chapter 5, Article III adopt the 2018 International Fire Code Chapter 61, which works in tandem with NFPA 58 setbacks. Tank size determines setbacks: under 125 gallons can be next to a building; 125-500 gallons must be at least 10 feet from buildings and property lines; 501-2,000 gallons must be at least 25 feet.
The Peoria Fire Department regulates outdoor fire pits and campfire rings under the Open Burning Policy adopted pursuant to Peoria Code Chapter 11 (Fire Prevention and Protection), Article V (Burning Regulations) and the 2018 International Fire Code. Outdoor fire/barbecue pits must be at least 25 feet from any structure or combustible surface, may burn only seasoned dry firewood or charcoal briquettes, and are limited to a fuel area no larger than 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height. Campfire rings require a $10 recreational burn permit from the Fire Prevention Division; commercially manufactured pits and chimineas do not require a permit if they meet the placement and fuel rules.
Consumer fireworks (firecrackers, bottle rockets, Roman candles, aerial shells, mortars) are illegal in Peoria and throughout Illinois under the Illinois Pyrotechnic Use Act, 425 ILCS 35/. Only sparklers, snake/glow-worm pellets, smoke devices, party poppers, and similar novelties are permitted statewide under 425 ILCS 35/1. Peoria Code Chapter 11 (Fire Prevention and Protection) incorporates state fireworks restrictions and gives the Peoria Fire Department authority to regulate display fireworks shows by licensed pyrotechnic operators only.
Peoria is not designated as a wildfire hazard area, so the City does not enforce a defensible-space brush-clearance program. Vegetation control is handled through the Peoria property maintenance code (Peoria Code Chapter 5, Article VI, adopting the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code) and the City's weed and rank-vegetation ordinance, which caps grass and weeds at a maximum height before triggering code enforcement and city-performed abatement billed back to the owner.
Peoria has no designated wildfire hazard zone. The City is not located in a Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI) area as recognized by the U.S. Forest Service or the Illinois Department of Natural Resources, and Illinois does not maintain a statewide Fire Hazard Severity Zone map analogous to California's. Building, brush clearance, and landscaping in Peoria are governed by the standard property maintenance code (Peoria Code Ch. 5, Art. VI) rather than any WUI overlay or defensible-space mandate.
Peoria Code Chapter 5 (Animals) prohibits any dog from running at large within the city. Owners must keep dogs under restraint on a leash when off the owner's premises. Peoria County Animal Protection Services administers state-mandated registration under the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/), including rabies vaccination tags. Dog waste must be removed from public property and other private property under the city's pooper-scooper rules.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Animals) restricts the keeping of exotic, dangerous, and wild animals consistent with the Illinois Dangerous Animals Act (720 ILCS 585/) and the Illinois Herptiles-Herps Act (510 ILCS 68/). Big cats, bears, primates, venomous reptiles, and other dangerous animals are effectively prohibited within the city. Possession of certain wildlife species also requires permits from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Animals) does not impose a specific numerical cap on dogs or cats per household, but excessive numbers that result in odor, sanitation, or noise complaints can be cited as nuisances under Chapter 18 (Property Maintenance). Households keeping more than the customary number for residential use should be aware of the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act's hoarding standard (510 ILCS 70/2.10).
Peoria does not have a breed-specific ordinance and cannot enact one. Illinois Public Act 097-1108, which amended the Illinois Animal Control Act (510 ILCS 5/24), prohibits Illinois municipalities from regulating dogs in a manner specific to breed. All dog regulations in Peoria — including dangerous-dog designation — must be based on individual animal behavior, not breed.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Animals) does not include an express beekeeping ordinance permitting urban apiaries in residential districts. Bees are typically treated as livestock under the city's animal regulations and are restricted to agricultural-zoned parcels under Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance). State-level registration of apiaries with the Illinois Department of Agriculture is required under the Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act (510 ILCS 20/).
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 18 (Property Maintenance) prohibits conditions that attract rodents, including the feeding of wildlife in a manner that creates a public nuisance. Direct feeding of deer is also restricted at the county and state level under Illinois Department of Natural Resources rules (17 IL Adm. Code 635) to reduce chronic-wasting-disease spread. Bird feeders are generally permitted if maintained to prevent rodent or bear-attraction issues.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 5 (Animals) prohibits the keeping of livestock — including cattle, horses, swine, sheep, goats, and fowl such as chickens, ducks, geese, and turkeys — within the city limits except on land zoned for agricultural use under Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance). Chickens are not permitted in standard residential R-1 through R-7 districts. Property owners seeking to keep poultry must verify zoning at the Community Development Department before acquiring birds.
Peoria addresses animal hoarding through the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act (510 ILCS 70/2.10), which defines 'companion animal hoarder' and makes hoarding a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense and a Class 4 felony for subsequent offenses. Local enforcement is by Peoria County Animal Protection Services in coordination with Peoria Police; municipal nuisance citations under Peoria Code Chapter 18 can also apply.
Native-plant landscaping is permitted in Peoria as a recognized alternative to traditional turf grass. Illinois HB 4604 (Public Act 102-0974, the Illinois Native Landscaping Act) explicitly protects residential native and pollinator landscapes from being treated as nuisances solely on the basis of height or perceived 'untidiness,' provided they are intentional and maintained. Peoria's Chapter 18 grass-height rule includes the standard exemption for cultivated landscapes.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 18 (Property Maintenance) and the city's nuisance abatement provisions declare grass and weeds in excess of 10 inches a public nuisance subject to abatement. Property owners receive notice and an opportunity to cut; failure to comply allows the city to mow at the property owner's expense, with costs assessed as a lien against the property.
Peoria's Public Works Department maintains parkway (right-of-way) trees and requires property owners to maintain street trees at the property line. Tree trimming on public property requires permission from Public Works; private trees that overhang sidewalks must be pruned to maintain at least 8 feet of clearance over sidewalks and 14 feet over streets. ComEd handles tree-line clearance under separate utility easements.
Peoria does not require a permit to remove a tree on private residential property. Parkway trees (those in the public right-of-way between sidewalk and curb) cannot be removed without authorization from the City Forester through Public Works. Where utility lines are involved, Ameren Illinois handles clearance work, and JULIE (811) must be called before any excavation that disturbs roots near underground utilities.
Peoria's Code of Ordinances Chapter 18 (Property Maintenance) declares weeds and rank vegetation over 10 inches a public nuisance, with the same enforcement framework as the grass-height rule. Noxious-weed species listed in the Illinois Noxious Weed Law (505 ILCS 100/) — including kudzu, perennial sow thistle, Canada thistle, and musk thistle — must be controlled regardless of height.
Peoria does not have a year-round municipal water-restriction ordinance. Water service is provided by Illinois American Water (a private regulated utility) rather than a city water department. Drought-response restrictions, if declared, follow Illinois American Water's Drought Contingency Plan filed with the Illinois Commerce Commission; the city has no separate odd/even watering schedule.
Backyard composting of yard waste and kitchen scraps is permitted in Peoria as long as the compost pile is maintained to prevent odor, vermin attraction, or other nuisance conditions under Chapter 18 (Property Maintenance). The Illinois Food Scrap and Composting Coalition and University of Illinois Extension provide guidance. Yard-waste curbside collection is also offered seasonally through the city's contracted hauler.
Illinois law authorizes residential rainwater harvesting and directs the state to publish a uniform Rainwater Harvesting Manual that governs system design statewide.
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) regulates fence material and finish standards in residential districts. Barbed wire and electrified fences are restricted in residential zones; chain link, wood, vinyl, ornamental metal, and masonry are typical permitted materials. Finished side must generally face the street or neighbor. Historic Districts and HOA covenants under 765 ILCS 160/ may impose stricter material standards on top of the zoning rules.
Peoria adopts the International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) through Chapter 5 (Buildings). IPMC Section 303.2 (Enclosures) requires private swimming pools more than 24 inches deep to be surrounded by a barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) high measured from the side away from the pool, with self-closing, self-latching gates and a release mechanism at least 54 inches above the bottom of the gate.
Illinois has no statewide 'good neighbor' fence cost-sharing statute, and Peoria does not require neighbor consent before installing a boundary fence. The Illinois Adjacent Landowner Excavation Protection Act (765 ILCS 140/) requires notice when excavating near a property line. HOA covenants under the Illinois Common Interest Community Association Act (765 ILCS 160/) may impose additional approval rules. Peoria boundary disputes proceed through the Peoria County Circuit Court.
Peoria regulates residential fence heights through Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) of the Code of Ordinances. Typical residential standards limit fences in front yards to 4 feet and side/rear yards to 6 feet, measured from finished grade. Corner-lot vision triangles further restrict obstructions near intersections. Illinois has no statewide fence height preemption, so Peoria's home-rule Zoning Ordinance is the controlling authority.
Peoria requires a Fence Permit from the Building Safety Division (419 Fulton Street, Room 203, 309-494-8600) before installing most residential fences. Application requires a site plan showing fence location, height, materials, property lines, and setbacks. Permits are issued under Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) and reviewed for compliance with height, setback, and vision-triangle standards.
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) does not include 'accessory dwelling unit' as a defined use category. Single-family districts permit only one principal dwelling per lot; a second self-contained unit generally requires a parcel in a two-family or higher-density district or a variance/special use from the Zoning Board of Appeals. Illinois has no statewide ADU enabling statute, so all authority rests with the home-rule city under 65 ILCS 5/.
Peoria does not levy general residential impact fees on new construction. Charges on a new dwelling unit are limited to building permit fees calculated on construction valuation, electrical/plumbing/mechanical trade permit fees, and water and sanitary sewer tap-on fees if a new service line is installed. School and park land/cash contributions under the Illinois Plat Act (765 ILCS 205/) apply only when a parcel is subdivided or platted, not on a permit for an existing platted lot.
Peoria requires an Accessory Structure Permit from the Building Safety Division (309-494-8600) for residential sheds, with thresholds and dimensional limits set by Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance). Sheds are typically restricted to rear or side yards, with setbacks from property lines, maximum height around 12-15 feet, and limits on combined accessory structure footprint. Sheds may not be used as habitable space or as a second dwelling unit.
Converting a Peoria garage into habitable living space requires a building permit from the Building Safety Division (309-494-8600) and zoning review under Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance). A conversion that creates a self-contained second dwelling (kitchen + bath + sleeping area) is restricted under the city's ADU rules — the same variance/special use route through the Zoning Board of Appeals applies. Off-street parking minimums must still be met after conversion.
Peoria does not have a streamlined ADU permit pathway. A second self-contained dwelling on a single-family parcel requires either (1) the parcel to be re-zoned to a two-family or multi-family district, or (2) a use variation or special use permit through the Zoning Board of Appeals. Once zoning approval is obtained, the standard Residential Building Permit and trade permits issue from the Building Safety Division (309-494-8600). Illinois has no statewide ADU enabling statute.
Illinois requires tiny homes built on permanent foundations to comply with the state-adopted residential building codes administered by the Capital Development Board.
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) sharply restricts signage for home occupations. Typical rules allow at most one small non-illuminated, flush-mounted nameplate (often limited to 1-2 square feet) identifying the resident or the business, with no flashing or electric lighting and no off-premises advertising. The exterior of the home cannot otherwise indicate the presence of a business. Sign permits are issued by the Building Safety Division under the city's separate sign provisions.
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) limits walk-in customer traffic at residential home occupations. Typical rules require that the home occupation not generate vehicular or pedestrian traffic substantially greater than normal residential character, with appointments by scheduled basis only, parking accommodated on the lot or driveway, and no group instruction or retail walk-in sales. Excessive traffic, parking spillover, or commercial vehicle activity violates the home occupation rules.
Peoria's Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) allows home occupations as a limited permitted accessory use in residential districts. The business must be clearly incidental to the dwelling's residential use, conducted by the resident, not change the exterior appearance of the home, and meet operational limits on employees, traffic, signage, and floor area. The use cannot generate noise, odor, or activity beyond normal residential character.
Illinois preempts local bans on cottage food sales, allowing homemade food production in residential kitchens with statewide product, labeling, and registration standards superseding most municipal restrictions.
The Illinois Child Care Act establishes uniform licensing for home daycare operations, preempting local rules that would prohibit licensed family child care homes in residential zones.
Peoria's residential refuse program is operated by GFL Environmental under contract with the City. Carts may be set out as early as 3:00 p.m. the day before collection and must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on the collection day. After pickup, carts must be removed within 24 hours and stored in a garage or alongside the house. Carts should be positioned three feet from any other cart, with the lid opening facing the street. The City Code's property maintenance article incorporates the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code for general aesthetic and storage rules.
Peoria Code Chapter 5 (Buildings and Building Regulations), Article VI (Property Maintenance Code) adopts the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) with local amendments as the standard for residential and non-residential property condition. The IPMC reaches peeling paint, broken windows, sagging gutters, structural decay, junk accumulation, unlicensed/inoperable vehicles, overgrown vegetation, and exterior storage that detracts from neighborhood character. Peoria Code Enforcement Office uses a graduated process: education, warning, ticket, administrative hearing.
Peoria requires registration of all non-owner-occupied properties and any property vacant for 6 months or more under its Residential Property Registration program. Annual fee: $75 for single-family, $75 + $20 per additional unit for multi-family. Foreclosure registration is separate and required even if the property is occupied. Unregistered properties face a $300 per-unit citation ($500 for foreclosure). Vacant lots and parcels are subject to the 2018 IPMC grass/weed limit (~10 inches), boarding/securing requirements, and accumulation prohibitions.
Peoria Code Sec. 26-251 requires commercial property owners — including public and private schools, hospitals, and churches — to remove snow from abutting sidewalks within 24 hours after a snowfall of less than 6 inches and within 36 hours after a snowfall of 6 inches or more. Cleared paths must be at least 4 feet wide. Penalties run $50-$100 per violation. Residential property owners are not required by ordinance to shovel but are strongly encouraged. The Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act (745 ILCS 75) provides civil-liability protection to anyone who shovels in good faith.
GFL Environmental collects residential trash weekly for all single-family-through-four-family properties inside Peoria city limits. Recycling is collected every other week per a Calendar A / Calendar B route map maintained by the City. Yard waste is collected weekly the same day as trash from the week of April 6 through the week of December 7 annually. Set-out window: as early as 3:00 p.m. day before; out by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Collection runs 6:00 a.m.-7:00 p.m. Carts must be removed within 24 hours after pickup.
Peoria collects yard waste curbside through GFL the same day as regular trash from the week of April 6 through the week of December 7 (2026 season). Acceptable containers: 40-45 gallon plastic or metal cans with handles and tight-fitting lid (labeled 'Yard Waste Only'), 65 or 95-gallon wheeled carts, or compostable paper bags only — plastic bags are banned for yard waste under Illinois EPA Act 415 ILCS 5/22.22. Bundles of brush must be tied with non-metallic cord, under 5 feet long and 50 pounds. Real Christmas trees accepted seasonally.
Illegal dumping in Peoria is reached at three layers. Locally: Code Sec. 13-60 (Litter) prohibits depositing refuse anywhere other than authorized receptacles, and Secs. 15-96/15-97 declare and prohibit public nuisances including refuse accumulation. State backstop: Illinois Environmental Protection Act 415 ILCS 5/21 prohibits open dumping with violations classified as Class A misdemeanor (first/second offense, minimum $500 fine) or Class 4 felony (250+ cubic feet, with $25,000/day additional fine; second/subsequent violation Class 3 felony with $50,000/day). IEPA administrative citations: $1,500 first / $3,000 subsequent.
Per the City of Peoria-GFL contract, residents must place carts at the curb (or designated pickup location for the address), spaced at least 3 feet apart from each other and from any obstacles (parked cars, mailboxes, light poles), with the lid opening facing the street so the GFL automated arm can lift the cart. Carts may go out after 3:00 p.m. the day before pickup and must be at the curb by 6:00 a.m. on collection day. Carts must be removed within 24 hours after pickup. Yard waste and bulky items must be placed 3 feet from trash and recycling carts.
Peoria offers unlimited curbside bulky waste pickup through GFL Environmental, included in the annual refuse bill. No advance scheduling is required, though residents may call 309-688-0760 to notify GFL. Acceptable items include furniture (couches, tables, chairs, desks, entertainment centers), mattresses, building materials (wood, sheetrock), and carpet/underpadding. Items must be placed at the curb between 3:00 p.m. the day before and 6:00 a.m. on the collection day, three feet from the trash and recycling carts.
Peoria operates a single-stream curbside recycling program through GFL Environmental. Each residential property receives a 95-gallon recycling cart at no charge; additional carts are available on request. Collection is every other week on a Calendar A or Calendar B schedule. Accepted materials: paper, cardboard, plastic #1-#7 with neck (no plastic bags), aluminum and steel cans, glass bottles and jars. No source-separation is required. Peoria does not mandate residential recycling participation, but the program is universally available and bundled in the annual refuse bill.
Peoria does not operate a mandatory periodic rental-inspection program like Champaign or Bloomington. Instead, the City uses (1) annual rental registration with a Property Owner/Tenant Self-Inspection Form, (2) complaint-driven inspections by Peoria Inspections and Code Enforcement under the Property Maintenance Code (Chapter 5, Article VI), and (3) targeted inspections for chronic nuisance properties and foreclosure registrations. Code violations carry escalating citations through the Peoria Administrative Hearing Officer.
Peoria requires every non-owner-occupied rental property and every property vacant for 6 months or more to register annually with the City. Single-family or first-unit fees are $75 per year; each additional multi-family unit is $20. Registration deadline is February 28 each year. Out-of-county owners must appoint a local property manager with an office in Peoria, Tazewell, or Woodford County. Unregistered properties face $300 per-unit citations.
Peoria has no separate local security deposit ordinance; the Illinois Security Deposit Return Act (765 ILCS 710/) controls. Landlords of buildings with 5 or more dwelling units must return the deposit within 45 days of the tenant vacating, provide an itemized statement of damage within 30 days, and may not deduct for normal wear and tear. Buildings with 25 or more units must also pay interest under the Illinois Security Deposit Interest Act (765 ILCS 715/). Violations expose the landlord to double the deposit amount plus attorneys' fees.
Peoria cannot enact rent control. The Illinois Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825/), in effect since 1997, expressly prohibits any unit of local government, including Peoria as a home-rule city, from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing any ordinance that controls the amount of rent charged for private residential or commercial property. Peoria landlords are free to set rents at market rates, and tenant remedies are limited to negotiation, notice rights under 735 ILCS 5/9, and discrimination protections.
Peoria does not have a local just-cause eviction ordinance. Landlords may terminate month-to-month tenancies for any reason (or no reason) with 30 days' written notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-207. Eviction for nonpayment requires a 5-day notice under 735 ILCS 5/9-209; eviction for lease violation requires a 10-day notice. Unlike Chicago and unincorporated Cook County, Peoria has not enacted just-cause protections, and Illinois state law does not generally impose a cause requirement.
Peoria's Mobile Food Vehicle ordinance designates specific downtown vending locations (5 food trucks and 23 pushcarts annually) and otherwise prohibits stops within 30 ft of intersections, 300 ft of restaurants without permission, 500 ft of schools during school hours, 500 ft of events without registration, and inside Fulton Plaza or residential areas. Vendors cannot block entrances, bus stops, taxi stands, or handicap zones, or leave a truck unattended.
Peoria's Mobile Food Vehicle ordinance (Code Chapter 18, Article XVII) requires every food truck operating on public right-of-way or in regulated public locations to obtain a city license. The city license fee is $0 for 2026 (waived), but operators must post a $1,000 performance bond, carry liability insurance ($300k/$500k/$15k), hold a Peoria City/County Health Department food license, and obtain a Fire Department permit. Downtown licenses are capped at 5 food trucks and 23 pushcarts. Hours are 7 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. outside downtown.
Peoria requires every retailer selling tobacco products at retail within city limits to hold a City of Peoria Retail Tobacco License issued by the Tax and License office. The license is separate from the Illinois state Cigarette and Tobacco Products Retailer registration administered by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Illinois Tobacco 21 (410 ILCS 88/) prohibits sale of tobacco, vape, and nicotine products to anyone under 21. Peoria does not have a flavor ban or local cap on retailer density.
Peoria requires every secondhand dealer operating within city limits to obtain a Secondhand Dealer License from the City's Tax and License Division, governed by Code of Ordinances Chapter 18, Article XI. Licensees must keep transaction records identifying every item and seller (including government-issued photo ID), report transactions to the Peoria Police Department, and observe a holding period before resale. Recyclable metal dealers and pawnbrokers are licensed separately. Illinois Pawnbroker Regulation Act (205 ILCS 510/) overlays state requirements on pawnshops.
Peoria addresses loud parties through (1) the citywide noise ordinance, which prohibits sound that disturbs the peace and applies stricter quiet hours of 11 p.m.-7 a.m. in the Central Business District and 12 a.m.-5 a.m. elsewhere, and (2) the October 2025 Nuisance Gathering Ordinance, under which police may order dispersal of a gathering of 10 or more people where two or more qualifying offenses occur. Failure to disperse is punishable by $250-$1,000 plus cost recovery.
Smoking in Peoria is primarily governed by the state Smoke Free Illinois Act (410 ILCS 82/), effective January 1, 2008. The Act bans smoking inside all public places, workplaces, and government buildings and outdoors within 15 feet of any entrance, exit, operable window, or ventilation intake. Peoria has not enacted a stricter outdoor smoking ban (no park-wide or beach-wide ban). Tobacco 21 (410 ILCS 88/) prohibits sales and possession by anyone under 21.
Illinois preempts local drone regulation for cities under 1,000,000 population, so Peoria cannot enact a citywide drone ordinance. Recreational pilots must pass the FAA's Recreational UAS Safety Test (TRUST), follow FAA Part 107 community-based guidelines, register drones over 0.55 lb with the FAA, and observe the Peoria Park District's policy prohibiting drone launches or landings in district parks except in designated areas or with district permission. Peoria International Airport (PIA) operates a 5-mile no-fly buffer without LAANC authorization.
Commercial drone operations in Illinois are governed primarily by FAA Part 107, with state law adding criminal and privacy overlays that apply uniformly across all Illinois jurisdictions.
Lead-paint disclosure and abatement in Peoria are primarily governed by the Illinois Lead Poisoning Prevention Act (410 ILCS 45/) and federal law (42 U.S.C. 4852d, 24 CFR Part 35, 40 CFR Part 745). Owners of residential buildings built before 1978 must give prospective tenants and buyers the EPA/HUD lead-hazard information pamphlet, disclose any known lead hazards, and provide written notice if a mitigation notice has been issued. Peoria's Property Maintenance Code (Peoria Code Ch. 5, Art. VI, 2018 IPMC) prohibits deteriorated lead paint as a property maintenance violation. The Peoria City/County Health Department investigates elevated blood-lead cases in children.
Illinois does not mandate fire sprinklers in new one- and two-family homes — the residential sprinkler provision in the International Residential Code (IRC R313) was struck from the Illinois state-adopted IRC as a state amendment. Peoria does not impose a local mandate for one- and two-family homes either. For commercial, multifamily, and assembly occupancies, Peoria adopts the 2018 International Building Code (IBC) and 2018 International Fire Code (IFC) under Peoria Code Chapter 5, Article III, which require NFPA 13/13R sprinkler systems based on occupancy classification, building height, area, and life-safety factors.
Pest control and rodent abatement in Peoria are enforced under Peoria Code Section 13-3 (Property Maintenance) and the 2018 International Property Maintenance Code adopted under Peoria Code Chapter 5, Article VI. Property owners must keep premises free from rodent harborage and infestation; the Peoria Code Enforcement Division gives owners 5 days from a Notice of Violation to remove environmental conditions (litter, debris, food sources) that attract rats. The City operates a free Rat Abatement Program that contracts an exterminator to bait around the property after environmental violations are corrected.
Peoria has two parallel zoning regimes: the conventional Zoning Ordinance in Peoria Code Appendix B (Articles 6 through 8) applies to most of the City, and the Unified Development Code in Peoria Code Appendix A (the Heart of Peoria Land Development Code) applies to the downtown and adjacent form-based-code area. Front, side, and rear yard setbacks vary by district. Typical conventional R-1 (low density residential) standards are a 25-30 ft front yard, 8-10 ft side yard, and 25 ft rear yard, while the Heart of Peoria form-based code uses build-to lines and 0-foot urban side setbacks in mixed-use blocks.
Building height in Peoria is regulated by the underlying zoning district. Under the conventional Zoning Ordinance (Peoria Code Appendix B, Article 7 — Bulk Regulations), single-family residential districts (R-1, R-2) typically cap principal structures at 35 feet, multifamily R-4/R-5 districts allow taller buildings (45-60+ feet), and commercial/downtown districts under the Heart of Peoria Unified Development Code (Appendix A) allow significantly greater heights with form-based controls. Accessory structures are typically capped at 15 feet.
Lot coverage in Peoria is regulated by the underlying zoning district under Peoria Code Appendix B, Article 7 (Bulk Regulations). Typical maximum building coverage (principal + accessory structures) is 30-35 percent of the lot area in single-family residential districts (R-1, R-2), 40 percent in two-family/multifamily R-3/R-4, and higher in commercial districts. Impervious-surface limits apply separately in the Heart of Peoria UDC area (Appendix A) and in flood-zone overlays along the Illinois River.
Peoria does not require a permit for tree removal on private residential property. Tree-removal permits are required only for: (1) parkway (right-of-way) trees, which must be authorized by the City Forester through Public Works; and (2) trees on certain commercial or development sites where landscaping plans were a condition of zoning approval. The Illinois Forestry Development Act applies only to managed forest parcels.
Peoria does not have a heritage-tree ordinance protecting specimen, historic, or large-diameter trees on private property. Some publicly owned trees in city parks and on the Peoria Riverfront are managed by the Peoria Park District with their own internal protection policies. The Illinois Forestry Development Act provides state-level managed-forest enrollment but does not designate urban heritage trees.
Peoria does not impose tree-replacement requirements for trees removed from private residential property. Replacement is required only when (1) a parkway tree is removed by or for a property owner — the City Forester typically schedules a replacement at city expense or as a condition; or (2) trees are removed from a commercial or PUD site contrary to an approved landscape plan, in which case Community Development can require like-for-like or mitigation planting.
Peoria operates a Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) under a National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Phase II permit administered by the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA). Development and redevelopment projects must comply with stormwater best-management practices (BMPs), erosion and sediment control during construction, and post-construction stormwater quality controls. Illegal discharges to storm drains are prohibited under Peoria Code Chapter 28 (Stormwater Management).
Peoria participates in the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and enforces floodplain development standards through Chapter 28 (Stormwater Management) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources Office of Water Resources rules under the Illinois Rivers, Lakes, and Streams Act (615 ILCS 5/). Construction in FEMA Special Flood Hazard Areas (Zones A, AE) along the Illinois River and tributaries requires elevation of habitable spaces to or above the Base Flood Elevation (BFE) plus 1 foot of freeboard.
The Illinois Department of Natural Resources Coastal Management Program regulates Lake Michigan shoreline development, applying uniform permit requirements along the entire Illinois coast regardless of municipality.
Illinois law authorizes Soil and Water Conservation Districts to establish erosion control standards while NPDES rules require erosion controls at construction sites of one acre or more.
Peoria adopts the International Fire Code (IFC) through Chapter 12 (Fire Prevention and Protection) of the Code of Ordinances. IFC Section 308.1.4 prohibits open-flame and LP-gas cooking devices with more than a 1-pound LP-gas container from being used on combustible balconies or within 10 feet of combustible construction on multifamily buildings. The restriction does not apply to one- and two-family dwellings, where standard backyard propane and charcoal grills are permitted in the rear yard.
Outdoor kitchens in Peoria typically require building, electrical, plumbing, and mechanical/gas permits from the Building Safety Division (309-494-8600). Built-in gas grills connected to a natural gas line or a permanent LP-gas tank require a gas piping permit; sinks and refrigeration require plumbing and electrical permits. Setbacks, structure separation, and accessory-structure footprint rules under Appendix B (Zoning Ordinance) apply.
Peoria issues a Solar Permit through the Building Safety Division (309-494-8600) for residential rooftop photovoltaic systems. Plans review covers structural attachment, electrical interconnection under NFPA 70 Article 690, fire setbacks under the IFC, and zoning compliance. The Illinois Homeowners' Solar Rights Act (765 ILCS 165/) restricts HOA and covenant interference with residential solar installations, requiring HOAs to allow reasonable solar use.
Illinois law requires homeowners associations to permit solar energy systems through reasonable policies, prohibiting outright bans or unreasonable restrictions on installations.
Illinois sets a $15 statewide minimum wage under the Minimum Wage Law and permits home rule cities like Chicago to require higher local wages for covered employees.
The Paid Leave for All Workers Act guarantees up to 40 hours of paid leave annually for nearly every Illinois employee, with limited carve-outs for jurisdictions with existing ordinances.
Illinois requires 24 consecutive hours of rest each calendar week and a meal break for shifts over 7.5 hours under the One Day Rest in Seven Act, with stricter local rules permitted.
Illinois issues shall-issue concealed carry licenses through the Illinois State Police under the Firearm Concealed Carry Act, with statewide preemption of local handgun carry rules.
Illinois preempts most local firearm regulation under the FOID Card Act and Wildlife Code, leaving home rule cities limited authority over assault weapons and certain narrow areas.
Illinois bans open carry of firearms in public under the Criminal Code, allowing concealed carry only by Firearm Concealed Carry Act licensees with limited exceptions.
Illinois law sets uniform rules for transporting firearms in vehicles under the FOID Card Act and Firearm Concealed Carry Act, preempting local handgun transport ordinances.
The Illinois Right to Privacy in the Workplace Act limits how employers may use E-Verify and bars mandates that exceed federal law, applying uniformly across all Illinois employers.
The Illinois TRUST Act and Way Forward Act bar state and local law enforcement from civil immigration enforcement, holding ICE detainers, or contracting for immigration detention.
Illinois protects agricultural land through the Agricultural Areas Conservation and Protection Act and limits county zoning over farms outside municipal boundaries.
The Farm Nuisance Suit Act shields established Illinois farms from nuisance lawsuits when the operation predates surrounding non-agricultural land uses by at least one year.
Illinois has not preempted local plastic bag regulation, allowing home rule municipalities to enact bans, fees, or recycling mandates under their general police power.
Illinois does not ban expanded polystyrene foodware statewide, but state procurement law restricts EPS use and home rule cities may impose local bans.
Illinois requires full-service restaurants to provide single-use plastic straws only upon customer request under Public Act 102-0532, with local governments free to add stricter rules.
Illinois prohibits sale of any tobacco, alternative nicotine, and electronic cigarette product to persons under 21 under the Prevention of Tobacco Use by Persons under 21 Act.
Illinois has no comprehensive statewide flavored tobacco ban, but home rule municipalities such as Chicago and Evanston may regulate flavored e-cigarettes under local police power.
Illinois requires retailers selling electronic cigarettes and e-liquids to obtain Department of Revenue licensing and follow age-verification, packaging, and tax rules statewide.