Illinois Ordinances (2026)

Illinois requires tiny homes built on permanent foundations to comply with the state-adopted residential building codes administered by the Capital Development Board.

Illinois defines and criminalizes companion animal hoarding under the Humane Care for Animals Act, applying uniformly through state criminal code statewide.

The Illinois Bees and Apiaries Act requires registration of all colonies with the Department of Agriculture and authorizes inspections to control diseases statewide.

Illinois prohibits municipalities from declaring dogs dangerous or vicious solely based on breed under the Animal Control Act, requiring conduct-based determinations only.

Illinois law requires owners to keep dogs under restraint or control off their property and imposes strict liability for bites by unrestrained animals statewide.

Illinois prohibits private possession of dangerous animals including big cats, bears, wolves, and primates under the Dangerous Animals Act, with limited exempt categories.

Illinois Wildlife Code prohibits feeding deer and similar wildlife in many counties to prevent chronic wasting disease spread, with statewide enforcement authority.

Illinois law permits home cannabis cultivation only by registered medical patients, capped at five plants per household, and preempts local bans or expansions of recreational home grow.

Illinois imposes a statewide juvenile curfew prohibiting minors under 17 from public places between specified late-night and early-morning hours.

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.

Illinois preempts local drone regulation through the Freedom from Drone Surveillance Act, establishing uniform privacy rules while federal FAA authority controls airspace operation statewide.

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.

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.

Illinois law requires state-issued permits for construction within regulatory floodways and mandates municipal participation in NFIP minimum standards across all designated flood hazard areas.

Illinois EPA administers federally delegated NPDES stormwater permits requiring uniform construction and municipal stormwater controls that apply on top of any local stormwater ordinances.

Illinois requires pool enclosures meeting the state Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Code, with statewide minimum barrier rules for public pools and statutory residential standards.

Illinois generally prohibits consumer fireworks statewide under the Pyrotechnic Use Act, allowing only novelty items like sparklers, smoke devices, and snakes for the public.

Illinois EPA regulations restrict open burning statewide, prohibiting the burning of garbage, landscape waste in many urban areas, and any materials producing dense smoke or air pollution.

Illinois regulates the storage, handling, and transport of liquefied petroleum gas statewide under the LPG Act, adopting NFPA 58 standards uniformly through the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

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.

Illinois requires mobile food vendors to obtain certified food protection manager status and meet uniform sanitation standards under the Food Service Sanitation Code statewide.

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.

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 law authorizes residential rainwater harvesting and directs the state to publish a uniform Rainwater Harvesting Manual that governs system design statewide.

Illinois imposes treble damages on anyone who cuts or removes trees on another person's land without authorization, applicable in every county.

Illinois preempts municipal regulation of utility line clearance vegetation management through ICC rules that apply uniformly to all electric utilities.

Illinois law designates noxious weeds and requires landowners to control them on all property regardless of municipal weed ordinances.

Aircraft noise in Illinois is governed exclusively by federal aviation law, leaving cities and the state without authority to regulate flight operations or in-flight sound.

Illinois Animal Control Act provides a uniform statewide definition of nuisance dogs and authorizes county animal control to impound chronic barkers regardless of city limits.

Illinois sets uniform statewide decibel limits for stationary industrial and commercial noise sources through Pollution Control Board rules under the Environmental Protection Act.

The Illinois Vehicle Code establishes uniform procedures for declaring, towing, and disposing of abandoned vehicles on public and private property across all jurisdictions in the state.

Illinois law guarantees renters and condo owners the right to install EV charging stations, preempting local restrictions on residential charging access at multi-unit buildings.

The Illinois Snow and Ice Removal Act shields residential property owners from liability for natural accumulations cleared in good faith, applying uniformly statewide.

The Illinois Eviction Act sets the exclusive procedure landlords must follow to recover residential possession, including notice periods and court process applicable statewide.

Illinois prohibits any unit of local government from enacting, maintaining, or enforcing rent control ordinances on private residential or commercial property.

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 imposes a 6% state Hotel Operators' Occupation Tax on short-term rentals of fewer than 30 consecutive days, including platforms like Airbnb and Vrbo, applied uniformly statewide.

Illinois statute preempts condominium and homeowner association rules that prohibit residents from displaying political signs and flags on their own units or limited common areas.

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 law requires homeowners associations to permit solar energy systems through reasonable policies, prohibiting outright bans or unreasonable restrictions on installations.

Illinois protects residential solar energy installations through the Homeowners Energy Policy Statement Act and limits unreasonable association or municipal restrictions.

The Illinois Swimming Pool and Bathing Beach Act sets statewide minimum barrier and safety standards for public pools enforced by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

Illinois treats public spas and hot tubs as regulated swimming facilities, applying statewide water quality, signage, and bather load standards through IDPH.

Illinois requires lifeguards, safety equipment, and specific signage at public pools and bathing beaches under the Department of Public Health regulations.

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.

Illinois requires every county to develop and maintain a solid waste management plan with recycling provisions, and bans landfill disposal of landscape waste, electronics, and white goods statewide.