Illinois Ordinances (2026)

Illinois requires tiny homes built on permanent foundations to meet locally enforced building codes, with a 2025 state law requiring every jurisdiction to apply at least the International Code Council minimum…

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 barring minors under 17 from public places late at night under Section 12C-60 of the Criminal Code, which replaced the repealed Child Curfew Act in 2013.

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…

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 public and semi-public pools to be enclosed by barriers at least 4 feet high under the state Swimming Facility Code, while residential pool fencing is enforced through locally adopted…

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.

The Common Interest Community Association Act (765 ILCS 160) governs Illinois HOA budgets and assessments but, unlike the Condominium Property Act, it creates no statutory assessment lien or foreclosure power…

Under the Common Interest Community Association Act, Illinois HOA board meetings must be open to owners with at least 48 hours' notice (765 ILCS 160/1-40), elections follow 765 ILCS 160/1-25, and owners may…

Illinois HOAs enforce their declaration, bylaws, and rules under the Common Interest Community Association Act. Rule violations are pursued through the 765 ILCS 160/1-30(g) fine power, which requires notice…

Under 765 ILCS 160/1-30, an Illinois common interest community board may levy and collect reasonable fines for rule violations, but only 'after notice and an opportunity to be heard.' The Act sets no dollar…

Illinois law overrides HOA restrictions in two key areas. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act (765 ILCS 165) bars associations and covenants from prohibiting solar energy systems, and 765 ILCS 160/1-70…

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…

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 authorizes residential rainwater harvesting for non-potable uses, with system design standards set statewide through the Illinois Plumbing Code rather than by individual municipalities.

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 has no statewide barking or animal-noise standard. The Animal Control Act covers rabies, running at large, and dangerous dogs, so chronic barking complaints are handled under each city's or county's…

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.

Illinois requires a 5-day written notice for nonpayment of rent (735 ILCS 5/9-209), a 10-day notice to quit for lease violations (735 ILCS 5/9-210), and a 30-day termination notice for ending a month-to-month…

Illinois recognizes an implied warranty of habitability in every residential lease through case law, not a single statute. The Illinois Supreme Court established it in Jack Spring, Inc. v. Little (1972)…

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

Illinois has no statewide statute requiring advance notice before a landlord enters a rental unit. Entry is governed by the lease and the common-law covenant of quiet enjoyment, under which courts expect…

Illinois has no statewide statute capping residential rent late fees or setting a grace period. Late fees are governed by the written lease and general contract law, under which a fee must be a reasonable…

Under 735 ILCS 5/9-207, ending a month-to-month or other tenancy under one year requires 30 days' written notice; a week-to-week tenancy requires 7 days. The statute lets the landlord 'terminate the tenancy by…

Illinois has no statewide rent control and no cap on rent increases. The Rent Control Preemption Act, 50 ILCS 825, bars every unit of local government, including home rule cities, from enacting, maintaining…

Illinois has no statewide statute setting a maximum rent increase or a dedicated advance-notice period for raising rent, and the Rent Control Preemption Act (50 ILCS 825) bars local rent control. On a…

Illinois sets no statewide cap on residential security deposits. Under the Security Deposit Return Act, 765 ILCS 710, a landlord of a building with 5 or more units who keeps any of a deposit for damage must…

Adverse possession in Illinois generally requires 20 years of possession (735 ILCS 5/13-101). The period drops to 7 years when the occupant holds under claim and color of title 'made in good faith' and pays…

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 condominium law bars board rules that impair First Amendment rights, protecting unit owners' political sign displays, but no comparable statute covers HOA political signs; flag display is separately…

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 has no statewide plastic straw law. Straws-on-request bills have repeatedly failed in the General Assembly, so restrictions come from home rule cities — most notably Chicago's Single-Use Foodware…

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.