Skokie, IL Trash & Recycling: Dumpster Rules (2026)

Section 86-18 requires every residential, commercial and industrial site undergoing demolition, construction, renovation or cleanup to have a construction dumpster or roll-off type waste receptacle for construction waste and related non-garbage litter and trash. The property owner and, if applicable, the contractor share responsibility for keeping the receptacle serviced and for removing it within 14 days of completing the work, or before a Certificate of Completion is issued, whichever comes first. Every dumpster must display a clear, legible marking of the owner's name, contact information, address and a 24-hour contact phone number.

Dumpsters and waste receptacles must sit on the private property under construction, may not block exit doors or fire lanes, and must stay free of graffiti as defined in Section 42-41(a). Where the private lot has limited space, a dumpster may go into the public right-of-way only if it does not block the public street or right-of-way, is not placed within 15 feet of a fire hydrant, is not placed within 15 feet of an intersection, is not placed within 8 feet of a private driveway, sits in a legal parking area if parked on a street, is parked 12 inches or less from the curb, and carries reflective stripes or reflectors, or a barricade with flashing lights at each street-side corner.

The Village Manager or a designee addresses special circumstances case by case. Any dumpster in violation of the section that sits in the public right-of-way is declared a nuisance, which any police officer may abate by ticketing the dumpster and, if necessary, removing it to a Village vehicle pound or an authorized garage or storage area. The current placement standards trace to Ordinance No. 02-9-C-3117 of September 3, 2002, amended by Ordinance No. 02-12-C-3137 in December 2002 and Ordinance No. 16-7-C-4236 on July 18, 2016.