Cicero, IL Sidewalk & Pedestrian Rules: Encroachment Permits (2026)
Key Facts
- Permit issuer
- Town clerk
- Bond required
- $10,000.00 with approved sureties
- Annual compensation
- 4% of one-tenth lot value; $10.00 minimum
- Payment schedule
- Due May 1 and November 1 each year
- Transfer
- Not allowed without clerk's written consent
- No permit available
- For space under the roadway itself
Summary
The Town of Cicero requires a permit from the town clerk before anyone builds a vault, coal hole or other structure in the space underneath a public street or sidewalk. Section 82-97 bars use of that subsurface right-of-way without written town approval, and permits cannot be transferred without the clerk's consent.
(a)Required; transfer or assignment. No person shall use any space underneath the surface of any street or other public ground in the town or construct or maintain any structure under this article without first obtaining a permit from the town clerk. No such permit shall be issued, except as provided in this section, and no such permit shall be transferred or assigned nor shall any right or privilege thereunder be transferred or assigned, without the written consent of the town clerk.(b)Application; limitations on issuance. Application for such permit shall be in writing, stating specifically the space desired; its length, breadth and depth; the use intended to be made thereof; and the structure to be built therein. No permit shall be issued for the use of any space under the surface of the roadway of any street or other public ground.
Official source re-checked September 7, 2026: no newer edition of the code had been published (publisher’s edition: Code of Ordinances: Supplement 121).
Full Breakdown
Article III of Chapter 82, Streets, Sidewalks and Other Public Places, governs any private use of the space beneath a Cicero street or sidewalk. Section 82-97 requires anyone who wants to use or build in that subsurface space to first obtain a permit from the town clerk; the written application must state the length, width and depth of the space and describe the structure planned. No permit is available for space under the actual roadway of a street, only under the sidewalk or verge. 00 bond with sureties approved by the town clerk, indemnifying the town against damage claims and guaranteeing upkeep of the street or sidewalk surface above the space.
00, due to the town collector each May 1 and November 1. Permits are personal to the holder: Section 82-97(a) forbids transfer or assignment of a permit, or of any right under it, without the town clerk's written consent. The town clerk can revoke a permit outright if the holder fails to comply with Article III, and Section 82-98 directs the board of trustees to remove any structure built without ever securing the required permit and to close up the space.
Violations & Fines
Building or maintaining a structure under a Cicero street or sidewalk without a Section 82-97 permit triggers removal: the board of trustees will tear out the unauthorized structure and close the space under Section 82-98, at the owner's expense. A permit holder who violates Article III's terms, including the bond and compensation requirements, risks the town clerk revoking the permit under Section 82-97(c), ending the right to use the space entirely.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a permit to build a vault under a Cicero sidewalk?
What bond does Cicero require for subsidewalk space permits?
What happens if I use the space without a permit?
Sources & Official References
Other rules in Cicero
Compare Cicero to another location·View the Illinois sidewalk & pedestrian rules overview
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Encroachment Permits in Nearby Cities
How other cities in Cook County handle encroachment permits.